Adugna Abebe Bihonegn

Social inclusion is integral to the quality of life for people with disabilities (PWD). Using a social work lens, this article examines how policy, culture, and religion intersect to shape societal responses to disability in three nations: the United States, Egypt, and Ethiopia. Despite the existence of legal frameworks promoting disability rights, implementation gaps persist due to limited funding, lack of accountability, and cultural barriers. Social workers are positioned to bridge the gap between policy and practice by advocating for equitable resource distribution and culturally relevant applications of disability rights. Community inclusion for PWD demands systemic change, beyond legislation, to challenge dominant cultural narratives and transform structural norms. A culturally responsive, rights-based approach is essential to creating truly inclusive communities for PWD worldwide.

This qualitative study employed a case study design to explore the experiences of Hewan (Pseudonym), a 28-years-old Ethiopian woman who is with a visual impairment. In order to investigate this woman’s distinct experiences, this study included two key informant interviewees in addition to her qualitative interview. She was chosen with a purposive sampling technique since she lives in Ethiopia’s capital city, Addis Ababa. The dynamic consequences of gender, poverty and disability on this young woman’s life is analyzed by applying thematic analysis. This study revealed that Hewan has experienced a number of detrimental pressures such as, internalized oppression, poverty, social marginalization and neglect, sexual discrimination, lack of access to basic necessities and poor healthcare. The results of this study demonstrated the considerable negative effects that gender and disability stereotypes have imposed on Hewan’s psycho- emotional health. The findings also highlighted the critical need for families to be sensitive to the needs of their members and for their society’s members so as to establish inclusive social environments.

Although street-based prostitution is a rapidly growing social phenomenon in Ethiopian cities, there is little scholarly attention given to address the issue. This qualitative study aimed to understand the lived experiences of women who attempted to exit street prostitution in Gondar city. Thirteen study participants were chosen using the snowball sampling technique. In-depth interviews were used to gather qualitative data, which were then analyzed thematically. The study revealed formal support services, family support, spirituality, and saving money as important factors leading women to successfully exit from prostitution. However, some participants reported that structural problems, drug addiction, and societal attitudes led them to return to street prostitution. This study suggests that to help women successfully leave prostitution, interventions for exiting strategies should focus on economic strengthening activities as well as rehabilitation services including substance abuse treatment.

Despite growing research on homeless street children, women and elderly people in Ethiopia, there is little empirical evidence regarding the experiences of homeless street youth in the country. The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological research is therefore to understand the lived experiences of street homeless youth aged between 18 and 29 years in Gondar city. Face -to- face in-depth interview was conducted with 9 purposively selected study participants. Interviews were transcribed, coded, categorized and thematized through thematic analysis strategy. Five themes emerged from the data analysis include Reasons for becoming homeless; Social marginalization; Violence and Criminalization; Psychological distress; and Means of a living. Findings of this study illustrate that homeless youth suffered from poor health, sexual violence, psychological trauma, social stigma and hostility from the public. The combined effect of these precarious situations places homeless youth at the margins of society and makes them feel helpless in their daily lives. This study implies that social workers should use and promote family- and community-based interventions to deal with the problem of homeless youths and integrate them into society. How to reference using ASWNet style: Bihonegn, A. (2023). “Like rubbing salt into the wound”: Lived experiences of homeless youth in Gondar City, Ethiopia. African Journal of Social Work, 13(5), 265-272. https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/ajsw.v13i5.5 Visit journal website: https://ajsw.africasocialwork.net

Given the violent conflict and spiraling human rights violations over the last 3 years in Ethiopia, the mass killings and genocide have received little scholarly attention. This phenomenological study investigated the lived experiences of Amhara survivors of the Maikadra massacre , which occurred November 9–10, 2020, in northwestern Ethiopia. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 survivors who were purposefully selected to understand the meaning and essence of their lived experiences of the massacre. Data were transcribed, translated, and thematically analyzed using a qualitative phenomenological approach. Thematic analysis yielded seven themes centered on premassacre oppression and discrimination, traumatic experiences, emancipation, exacerbating stressors, postmassacre injustice, survivors’ primary needs, and coping mechanisms of massacre survivors. The article underscores the role of social workers and community workers in providing professional psychosocial programs and interventions to address massacre survivors’ specific needs as individuals, families, and communities.