Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe
Background: While it is widely assumed that disability, poverty and health are closely linked, research falls short of fully understanding the link. One approach to analysing the links between disability and poverty is through the concept of structural violence, referring to social structures that c...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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AOSIS
2017-04-01
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| Series: | African Journal of Disability |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/274 |
| _version_ | 1818150126365966336 |
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| author | Jennifer T. Muderedzi Arne H. Eide Stine H. Braathen Babill Stray-Pedersen |
| author_facet | Jennifer T. Muderedzi Arne H. Eide Stine H. Braathen Babill Stray-Pedersen |
| author_sort | Jennifer T. Muderedzi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: While it is widely assumed that disability, poverty and health are closely linked, research falls short of fully understanding the link. One approach to analysing the links between disability and poverty is through the concept of structural violence, referring to social structures that contribute to the impoverishment of individuals or communities. These structures can be political, ecological, legal and economic, among others.
Objective: To explore structural violence and how it affects families of children with cerebral palsy among the Tonga ethnic group living in poor rural communities of Binga in Zimbabwe.
Method: This is a longitudinal, qualitative and ethnographic study. Data were collected over a period of eight years from 2005 to 2013. Data collection techniques were in-depth interviews, participant observation and focus group discussions. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 53 informants.
Results: Structural violence was noted through four themes: internal displacement and development, food and politics, water and sanitation, and social services. Poverty was noted in the form of unemployment, lack of education, healthcare, food and shelter. The concept of structural violence inflicted social suffering on the informants. Politics played a major role in activities such as food withdrawal, lack of water, development and allocation of local resources to ‘the people of the city’, leaving the informants struggling with care.
Conclusion: Political and economic forces have structured risks and created a situation of extreme human suffering. The capabilities approach brings out the challenges associated with cerebral palsy in the context of development challenges. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-11T13:17:58Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-06bbd336640140289686ac9e49854787 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2223-9170 2226-7220 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-11T13:17:58Z |
| publishDate | 2017-04-01 |
| publisher | AOSIS |
| record_format | Article |
| series | African Journal of Disability |
| spelling | doaj.art-06bbd336640140289686ac9e498547872022-12-22T01:05:57ZengAOSISAfrican Journal of Disability2223-91702226-72202017-04-0160e1e910.4102/ajod.v6i0.274104Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in ZimbabweJennifer T. Muderedzi0Arne H. Eide1Stine H. Braathen2Babill Stray-Pedersen3Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of OsloSINTEF Technology and SocietySINTEF Technology and SocietyInstitute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Norway; Division of Women-Rikshospitalet; Oslo University Hospital, OsloBackground: While it is widely assumed that disability, poverty and health are closely linked, research falls short of fully understanding the link. One approach to analysing the links between disability and poverty is through the concept of structural violence, referring to social structures that contribute to the impoverishment of individuals or communities. These structures can be political, ecological, legal and economic, among others. Objective: To explore structural violence and how it affects families of children with cerebral palsy among the Tonga ethnic group living in poor rural communities of Binga in Zimbabwe. Method: This is a longitudinal, qualitative and ethnographic study. Data were collected over a period of eight years from 2005 to 2013. Data collection techniques were in-depth interviews, participant observation and focus group discussions. Purposive sampling was used to recruit 53 informants. Results: Structural violence was noted through four themes: internal displacement and development, food and politics, water and sanitation, and social services. Poverty was noted in the form of unemployment, lack of education, healthcare, food and shelter. The concept of structural violence inflicted social suffering on the informants. Politics played a major role in activities such as food withdrawal, lack of water, development and allocation of local resources to ‘the people of the city’, leaving the informants struggling with care. Conclusion: Political and economic forces have structured risks and created a situation of extreme human suffering. The capabilities approach brings out the challenges associated with cerebral palsy in the context of development challenges.https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/274disabilitypovertydevelopmentstructural violence |
| spellingShingle | Jennifer T. Muderedzi Arne H. Eide Stine H. Braathen Babill Stray-Pedersen Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe African Journal of Disability disability poverty development structural violence |
| title | Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe |
| title_full | Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe |
| title_fullStr | Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe |
| title_full_unstemmed | Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe |
| title_short | Exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in Zimbabwe |
| title_sort | exploring structural violence in the context of disability and poverty in zimbabwe |
| topic | disability poverty development structural violence |
| url | https://ajod.org/index.php/ajod/article/view/274 |
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