Untitled - Care Nepal

husbands, criticism in unnecessary issues
and restriction in mobility were the major
threats to women’s psychosocial well-being.
Domestic violence was reported
widespread in our research districts. Earlier
research has shown that domestic violence
is especially linked closely to alcohol abuse
and committed by men (N Bhardwaj, SK
Dhungana, N Hicks, R Crozier, C -
Kathmandu: Friends for Peace and
International Alert, 2007). Equally,
economical issues hamper women’s wellbeing.
Since the majority of the research
participants were from economically lower
status (ie land less women), they had to work
hard from morning until evening in others
field to fulfill their family members needs.
Due to which they felt physically and
mentally tired. They were not able to
manage the minimum demands of their
children.
In the context of Nepal usually people are
not aware of psychosocial issues. But this
research has identified lot of symptoms and
perceived causes of psychosocial problems
of women. Psychosocial problems were
mentioned by a majority of the women in
all four research districts even though
perceived causes were somewhere
different.
In terms of coping mechanism it was found
that women mostly share their insights,
feelings and emotions with their close
friends while they are together. The pathway
model presented above provides a clear
picture of how women cope with the
psychosocial problems and perceived
support from family and community level.
Previous research has shown the importance
of such social support processes (James
Goodhand, David Rampton, 2008).
Likewise in this research, it was found that
some of the culture of community such as
saving groups, women groups were
supportive factors from where women got
support to solve the problems. Despite the
exclusion and marginalization of many
groups of women from socio-political and
economic areas in Nepal, women groups
and local CBOs remained active at the
community level. Additionally, women
groups more concentrated to reduce the
gender based violence in community level
(N BHARADWAJ, SK Dhungana, N Hicks,
R Crozier, C..- Kathmandu: Friends for
Peace and International Alert, 2007). On
the other side, rituals, traditions such as
restriction during the menstruation period,
lack of freedom in the mobility and
conservative mind set up were explained as
the disempowering factors. Such findings
have been reported elsewhere as well. For
instance, research has shown that women
living in poor social and environmental
circumstances with associated low
education, low income and difficult family
and marital relationships, are much more
likely than other women to suffer from
mental disorders. E.g. Blue and colleagues
(1995) conclude that the combined impact
of gender and low social-economic status
are critical determinants of mental ill-health
(Blue et al, 1995).
Psychosocial Issues of
Women affected by conflict
35