Trauma and “Spiritual Resilience” Among Internally Displaced Women (IDW) Victims of Violence in the Commune of Dédougou, Burkina Faso

The security crisis in Burkina Faso has displaced over two million people, disproportionately affecting women and children, who are exposed to multiple forms of violence. This study assesses the resilience capacity of internally displaced women in the Boucle du Mouhoun region. A mixed-methods approach was employed with 1,056 participants, combining questionnaires administered via KoboToolbox and semi-structured interviews, in compliance with ethical standards. Findings reveal statistically significant correlations between year of displacement and both physical (r = 0.150, p = 0.017) and psychological violence (r = 0.072, p = 0.022). Nearly 46.74% of respondents lost relatives in atrocious circumstances (summary executions, throat-slitting, immolation), generating post-traumatic disorders including chronic insomnia, flashbacks, and psychosis. Despite psychosocial support from NGOs, prayer (39.74%) and silence (23.36%) remain the predominant coping strategies. These findings underscore the imperative for psychosocial interventions grounded in the victims’ cultural habitus to enhance their effectiveness.