Gender-based violence perceptions and protection systems interactions among displaced communities in Burkina Faso.

backgroundGender-based violence (GBV) is a major public health issue in humanitarian settings. Forced displacement weakens social support systems and increases vulnerability to violence. In Burkina Faso, the security crisis and the scale of internal displacement have profoundly transformed community norms, lived experiences of violence, and institutional responses.

aimThis study aimed to analyze social perceptions and lived experiences of GBV among internally displaced populations, while examining organizational responses through the perspectives of service providers operating in forced displacement contexts.

methodsGuided by Yuval-Davis' intersectional framework, this exploratory qualitative study was conducted in Kaya, in the Centre-Nord region. Data were collected through 58 focus group discussions involving 352 internally displaced persons, including women, men, adolescent girls and boys, and community leaders. Focus groups were conducted across different settlement areas to reflect the distribution of internally displaced populations in Kaya. Additionally, 28 service providers involved in GBV care across medical, psychosocial, social, and judicial sectors were interviewed. A comprehensive mapping of GBV-related services was conducted. Data were analyzed thematically using NVivo 12 and Braun and Clarke approach.

resultsFindings indicate that although community-based protection mechanisms exist, their availability and effectiveness remain uneven. Legal and institutional responses are often perceived as misaligned with deeply rooted social, cultural, and religious norms. Forced displacement changes social and family relationships and may contribute to the normalization of intimate partner violence. Women and girls adopt harmful survival strategies, including transactional sex, in response to severe economic precarity. Participants frequently reported fear, shame, stigma, and emotional distress. Access to psychosocial support was associated with emotional relief and pathways toward recovery.

conclusionThese findings improve understanding of how displaced populations perceive and experience GBV in Burkina Faso. The findings also show how insecurity, poverty, and displacement affect everyday life and coping strategies. Service providers also described the efforts made to support survivors, as well as the challenges faced in delivering care. CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER: Not applicable.