Challenges Associated with Partnering with Sudanese Refugee Women in Addressing Their Health Issues

Abstract

Civil war in Sudan has displaced refugees all over the globe. A community-based collaborative action research project (CBCAR) took place over one year between university researchers and southern Sudanese refugee women. The purpose of the study was to define the process of partnering with Sudanese refugee women to address their health needs. CBCAR requires equal participation from researchers and participants and is divided into six cyclical phases: partnership, dialogue, pattern recognition, dialogue on meaning of pattern, transforming insight to action, and reflecting on evolving pattern. Challenges from this project were examined from the perspectives of the researchers and the participants. The main challenges associated with conducting a CBCAR project between researchers and refugee women included: misunderstandings and differing expectations of research outcomes, language barriers, and cultural differences. Despite the challenges, this project led to increased knowledge for participants and researchers and improved health outcomes for the refugee women. This study demonstrates how CBCAR is a useful method to partner with refugees to address their health needs.