Julia Mutambara

Relationship complexities among women with obstetric fistula in Zimbabwe: an exploratory study

This study sought to determine how obstetric fistula affects womens intimate partner relationships or other social ties. A purposive sampling of eleven women (age range 17 to 31) with obstetric fistula admitted to two hospitals in Zimbabwe was done. In-depth interviews using unstructured interview guides were used to collect data on how the women`s condition impacted the way they related to other people and vice versa. Data were grouped into themes and analysed using content analysis and languishing and flourishing experiences were reported by the participants. Most of the study participants indicated that the condition strained their relationship with their husbands since they could not fulfil their conjugal rights. Participants also reported stigma from their close associates in the community, including extended family. Other participants reported to experience spiritual growth and strength from living with obstetric fistula. Support networks are important for women with obstetric fistula in a in a low resourced country like Zimbabwe.

Exploring the Role of Spirituality in Coping With War Trauma Among War Veterans in Zimbabwe

Spirituality affects people’s well-being and can be used to cope with traumatic experiences. The present study explored the role of spirituality in coping with war-related trauma among war veterans who fought in the Zimbabwean war of liberation between 1966 and 1979. Sixteen in-depth interviews and two focus group discussions were conducted using a semistructured interview guide. Data were analyzed using thematic content analysis. The study revealed the following seven themes that pointed to the role of spirituality in coping with war trauma: connectedness with ancestors, spirit mediums help to cope with fear, spirit of war, role of war songs and dances, spirituality and unity, spirit mediums helped with moral issues, and believing in God. The study recommends the need to be culturally sensitive to understand an individual’s coping responses when faced with war-related trauma.

Enhancing Psychosocial Support through Positive Youth Development: Narratives from Orphans in Zimbabwe

Due to the AIDS pandemic more and more youths are losing their parents. They are usually left with caregivers and in Zimbabwe these are usually people from the extended family. Many studies have focused on orphan hood challenges in line with the deficit model. Research in the past years has challenged a dominant stereotype of youth as carriers of risk and focused instead on their strengths and potential. This qualitative exploratory study interrogates aspects of positive youth development among the orphaned youths in Zimbabwe. Data were collected from a purposive sample of 23 adolescents (15-19 years). Three focus group discussions with five participants per group were done. In depth interviews were done with 8 participants and these were not the same as those who took part in the focus group discussions. Interviews were done at the premises of two NGO that provided the adolescents with food, school fees and other material needs. Data were thematically analysed. Results suggested that the participants experienced positive development in the following areas- personal experiences, relationships with significant others and help from the community. Subthemes were also derived from the main themes above. It was recommended that psychosocial support programs mainly focusing on positive youth development be implemented to enhance the wellbeing of orphans in Zimbabwe.

“Bearing my fruit into the grave”: experiences of anticipatory grieving and bereavement among Zimbabwean HIV positive women with loss of their only child

This study aimed to explore the bereavement experiences of HIV positive women who had lost their only child. Participants were 10 women living with HIV (age range = 24–35 years) and with loss of their only child. Data on experiences of anticipatory grief and bereavement among HIV positive women were collected over a period of six months. The data were analysed thematically. Findings suggest the women to have traumatic memories of their deceased children and also from the marital disharmony which followed the loss. The participants reported to have questioned their womanhood since they did not have any surviving child and dreaded the fact that they would die childless. Women also reported a sense of persona worthlessness following the death of the child and lived in fear and uncertainty of the future concerning their own mortality.