Table. Summary of Key Issues Raised by Men and Women in Group Discussions (in Both Sites) .
Key Themes | Men | Women |
Family |
• Isolation from family activities • Families broken up/divided • Loss of spouse and/or other relatives • Stigma (rejected by or treated differently by the family) |
• Stigma (being rejected by family) • Family breakup/abandonment by parent • Concern about meeting the needs of their children • Loss of many members of the family • Changed behaviours towards survivors (eg, separate utensils, keeping distance) |
Relationships |
• Stigmatisation • Difficulties with re-integrating into community • Not allowed access to toilets • Difficulty in finding a partner • Feeling alone • Keeping secrets (because of the fear of stigma) • Using isolation as a way of coping |
• Victim blaming • Stigma (being excluded / rejected, being rejected by friends, isolation, in school) • Enforced migration • Suspicion amongst family members that any future illness may be Ebola again |
Health |
Frequent health problems including: • Joint pain/problems • Trembling • Fever • Insomnia • Memory problems • Vision problems • Fatigue |
Varied health problems including: • Stomach pains • Joint pain/problems • Head aches • Frequent colds • Fatigue |
Economics |
• Loss of rented accommodation • Loss of work • Affected professional life • Loss of property (land, house) • Restriction of economic activities • Reduction of income |
• Reduced income (sometimes because of loss of clients) • Loss of or reduced income generating activities • Loss of money • Loss of accommodation • Increase in debt • Loss of family property • Reduced performance at work (related to health issues) |
Wellbeing |
• Traumatised • Lack of consideration of the psycho-social needs of survivors • Difficulties in forgetting the past • Isolating oneself • Stress • Unhappiness |
• Considering oneself a half-person • Unhappiness • Feeling pitied |