TITLE:
Migration and Traumatism: Case of Repatriated Migrant Women Victims of Exploitation in Kuwait
AUTHORS:
Ettié Silvie Kouassi, Koffi Paulin Konan, Soro Siényélédjama Françoise, Dion Aristide Gonce, Yessonguilana Jean-Marie Yeo-Tenena
KEYWORDS:
Women, Migration, Exploitation, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, Abidjan
JOURNAL NAME:
Open Journal of Social Sciences,
Vol.12 No.11,
November
28,
2024
ABSTRACT: Context and objective: Migration by women is accompanied by a multifaceted exploitation that affects women, particularly when it is “illegal”. The aim of this study is to identify the forms of exploitation suffered by Ivorian women during their “illegal” migration to Kuwait, and to describe the post-traumatic stress disorders that resulted. Methodology: This was a transversal and qualitative by saturation study with a descriptive aim with 15 Ivorian women repatriated from Kuwait in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic. These were selected by reasoned choice and subjected to a semi-structured interview in Abidjan. Results: The results indicate that these women were aged between 19 and 34, with an average age of 25.6; 53.33% had dropped out of lower secondary school; the majority were Muslims (66.66%), with no children (73.33%) and were of modest means (100%). In terms of the forms of exploitation suffered, 40% of the respondents had been victims of sexual, physical and domestic exploitation, 26.67% of sexual exploitation, 20% of domestic exploitation and 13.33% of physical exploitation. These forms of exploitation had caused PTSD in all of them (100%), which was associated with depressive disorders among 33.33% of them, with sexual disorders among 26.67% of them and with anxiety disorders among 13.33%. Conclusion: These results underline the interest in setting up a psychological support and social reintegration system to better assist these migrant women.