CCVS-Uganda invites you to join us in expanding mental health services to communities in need. Your support can help us:
Contact Us to explore partnership opportunities and make an impact together.
Your donation will be used to support the activities of our practice centres of the Centre for Communities in Vulnerable Situations. In these centres, in Northern Uganda and Eastern Congo, psychotherapeutic support services are provided to war-affected children, youth, their families and communities.
Centre for Children in Vulnerable Situations vzw – Kapelleweg 20, 8800 Roeselare | RPR Gent / afdeling Kortrijk
ondernemingsnummer 0631.980.833 – rekeningnummer BE30 0689 0237 9711
Research is executed focusing on the psychosocial wellbeing of children, adolescents, their families and communities in vulnerable situations in the South. These studies are practice-oriented, which means that the research questions are relevant for practitioners, and that the study results are disseminated as widely as possible.
Please find below an overview of all ongoing and completed CCVS International research projects, reports and academic publications.
Organisational Context CCVS Uganda was established in 2008 to promote psychological health in post-war Northern Uganda. It conducts research, provides
Alipanga, B., De Schryver, M., Neema, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2014). The reconciliation attitudes of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda. Journal of Psychiatry, 17(6).
De Bie, L. (2011). Research on the social resources for former child soldiers in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
De Nutte, L. (2013). A qualitative exploration of attachment among war-affected adolescents: Considering relationships in a broader context. [Unpublished master’s dissertation]. Ghent University.
De Nutte, L. (2023). Research with formerly abducted mothers and fathers in postconflict northern Uganda: A plea for transparency. In A. Bunting, A. Kiconco, & J. Quirk (Eds.), Research as more than extraction: Knowledge production and gender-based violence in African societies (pp. 134–154). Athens: Ohio University Press.
De Nutte, L. (2023). Upbringing in a context of prolonged collective violence: Lived experiences of caregivers in Northern Uganda. Afrika Focus, 36(2), 285–301.
De Nutte, L. (2023). Upbringing in a context of prolonged collective violence: Lived experiences of caregivers in Northern Uganda. [Doctoral thesis, Ghent University]. Biblio Academic Bibliography.
De Nutte, L., De Haene, L., & Derluyn, I. (2022). ’They now know that they are children of war’: Forcibly abducted mothers and fathers balancing disclosure and silencing to their children born of war in northern Uganda. Frontiers In Political Science, 4.
De Nutte, L., De Haene, L., & Derluyn, I. (2024). Interconnections between children’s upbringing, camps, and post‐war villages: Caregivers’ lived experiences in northern Uganda. Disasters, 48(3).
De Nutte, L., Okello, J., & Derluyn, I. (2017). Social relationships and social support among post-war youth in Northern Uganda. International Journal of Psychology, 52(4), 291–299.
De Pauw, E. (2010). A qualitative research on the experiences of ‘youth group’-participants in a post conflict context (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
De Winne, M. (2011). Child of a child soldier: research on the relational experiences of former girl soldiers and their children in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Derluyn, I. & Broekaert, E. (2010). Child soldiers. In: Brown, J.M. & Campbell, E.A. (Eds.), The Cambridge Handbook of Forensic Psychology, Cambridge: University Press, pp. 638-644.
Derluyn, I. (2011). Toward a new agenda for rehabilitation and reintegration processes for child soldiers. Journal of Adolescent Health, 49, 3-4.
Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E. & Schuyten, G. (2004). Post-traumatic stress in former Ugandan child soldiers – Reply. Lancet, 363, 9421, 1646-1647.
Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., Schuyten, G. & De Temmerman, E. (2004). Post-traumatic stress in former Ugandan child soldiers. Lancet, 363, 861-863.
Derluyn, I., De Haene, L., Vandenhole, W., Reiffers, R. & Tankink, M. (2014). Introduction to the Special Section on former child soldiers’ rehabilitation: connecting individual and communal worlds. Intervention, 12, 3, 323-330,doi:10.1097/WTF.0000000000000059.
Derluyn, I., Mels, C., Parmentier, S., & Vandenhole, W. (Eds.). (2012). Re-Member. Rehabilitation, Reintegration and Reconciliation of War-Affected Children. Cambridge, UK: Intersentia.
Derluyn, I., Mels, C., & Broekaert, E. (2009). Mental health problems in separated refugee adolescents. Journal of Adolescent Health, 44(3), 292-297.
Derluyn, I., Vandenhole, W., Parmentier, S., & Mels, C. (2015). Victims and/or perpetrators? Towards an interdisciplinary dialogue on child soldiers. BMC International Health and Human Rights, 15. doi: 10.1186/s12914-015-0068-5.
Derluyn, I., Vindevogel, S., & De Haene, L. (2013). Toward a relational understanding of rehabilitation and reintegration processes of former child soldiers. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment, and Trauma, 22, 8, 869-886. DOI: 10.1080/10926771.2013.824058.
Derluyn, I., Watters, C., Mels, C., & Broekaert, E. (2012). “We are all the same, coz exist only one earth, why the BORDER EXIST”: Messages of migrants on their way. Journal of Refugee Studies, 25 (4).
Herremans, T. (2013). Seropositive as adolescent girl in street situation (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Vrije Universiteit Brussel. Brussels, Belgium.
Knapen, S. (2010). The importance of cultural purification rituals during the re-integration of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Lambert, L. (2014). Girls under command: A human rights study on female child soldiers (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Lenaerts, J. (2010). The importance of religion in the recovery process of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda: The perspective of former child soldiers (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Maes, L. (2010). Research on gender based differences in coping of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Mels, C., & Fernandez, L. (2015). Violencia comunitaria en adolescentes desfavorecidos: exposición, impacto percibido y consecuencias psicológicas. Revista de Psicologia, 24 (1),1 -21.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., & Broekaert, E. (2008). Social support in unaccompanied asylum-seeking boys: a case study. Child: Care, Health & Development, 34 (6), 757-762.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., & Garcia-Perez C. (2013). Coping behaviors and post-traumatic stress in war-affected Eastern-Congolese adolescents. Stress & Health, 31(1), 83–88. doi: 10.10002.smi.2540.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., & Garcia-Pérez, C. (2016). Trauma, daily stressors and coping in war-affected Eastern Congolese adolescents. Stress & Health.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., & Rosseel, Y. (2009). Traumatic exposure and post-traumatic stress symptoms in adolescents in war-affected Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, 163(6), 525-530.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., & Rosseel, Y. (2010). Community-based cross-cultural adaptation of mental health measures in emergency settings: validating the IES-R and HSCL-37A in Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. Social Psychiatry & Psychiatric Epidemiology, 45, 899-910.
Mels, C., Derluyn, I., Broekaert, E., & Rosseel, Y. (2010). The psychological impact of forced displacement and related risk factors on Eastern Congolese adolescents affected by war. Child Psychology & Psychiatry, 51(10), 1096-1104.
Mesman, J., Van Ijzerdoorn, M., Carcamo, R., Cohen-Paraira, I., de la Harpe, C., Ekmekci Haticeesman, J., Mels, C., et al. (2015). Is the Ideal Mother a Sensitive Mother? Beliefs about Early Childhood Parenting in Mothers across the Globe. International Journal of Behavioral Development. doi: 10.1177/0165025415594030
Okello, J., De Schryver, M., Musisi, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2014). Differential roles of childhood adversities and stressful war experiences in the development of mental health symptoms in post-war adolescents in northern Uganda. BMC Psychiatry, 14, 260 10.1186/s12888-014-0260-5.
Okello, J., Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Klasen, F., Voss, C., Musisi, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2015). The impact of attachment and depression symptoms on multiple risk behaviors in post-war adolescents in northern Uganda. Journal of Affective Disorders, 180, 62-67.
Okello, J., Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Klasen, F., Voss, C., Musisi, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2015). The impact of attachment and depression symptoms on multiple risk behaviors in post-war adolescents in northern Uganda. Journal of Affective Disorders, 180, 62-67.
Okello, J., Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Musisi, S., Broekaert, E. & Derluyn, I. (2014). The association between Attachment and Mental Health Symptoms among School-going Adolescents in Northern Uganda: the Moderating Role of War-related Trauma. PLOS ONE.
Okello, J., Nakimuli-Mpungu, E., Musisi, S., Broekaert, E. & Derluyn, I. (2013). War-related trauma exposure and multiple risk behaviors among school-going adolescents in northern Uganda: The mediating role of depression symptoms.” Journal of Affective Disorders, 151, 715-721.
Okello, J., Onen, T. S., & Musisi, S. (2007). Psychiatric disorders among war abducted and non-abducted adolescents in Gulu district, Uganda: A comparative study. African Journal of Psychiatry, 10, 225–231.
Pottie, L. (2010). The profile of Ugandan former child soldiers in relation to existing support programs (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Rouckhout, E. (2014). Relation between coping strategies, psychosocial wellbeing and problems experienced by Northern Ugandan youth (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Schiltz, J. (2013). Dealing with stigmatization in Northern Uganda: resources for former child soldiers and their communities (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Schiltz, J., & Büscher, K. (2016). Brokering research with war-affected people: The tense relationship between opportunities and ethics. Ethnography. DOI: 10.1177/1466138116664542.
Schiltz, J., Vindevogel, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2015). Dealing with Relational and Social Challenges After Child Soldiering: Perspectives of Formerly Recruited Youth and their Communities in Northern Uganda. Journal of Community & Appllied Social Psycholy. DOI: 10.1002/casp.2264.
Shehadeh, A.S, Vanderfaeillie, J., Loots, G., & Derluyn, I. (2015). The impact of parental detention on the psychological wellbeing of Palestinian children. Plos One, 10, Article Number: e0133347.
Shehadeh, A.S, Vanderfaeillie, J., Loots, G., & Derluyn, I. (2015). The impact of parental detention on the psychological wellbeing of Palestinian children. Plos One, 10, Article Number: e0133347.
Shehadeh, A.S, Vanderfaeillie, J., Loots, G., & Derluyn, I. (2016). The association between parental imprisonment and the mental health of Palestinian adolescents. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 21(3), 154–160.
Shehadeh, A.S., Dawani, S., Saed, M., Derluyn, I., & Loots, G. (2016). Imprisoned husbands: Palestinian wives and experiences of difficulties. Community Mental Health Journal, 52(1), 118-125.
Souffriau, S. (2011). The experience concerning stigmatization and marginalization of former girl soldiers in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Spanhove, S. (2011). Family resources in the recovery process of former child soldiers in Northern Uganda (Unpublished master’s dissertation). Ghent University. Ghent, Belgium.
Vandenhole, W., Parmentier, S. & Derluyn, I. (2011). Editorial Introduction. International law on children and armed conflict: the interface between various normative frameworks. Human Rights & International Legal Discourse, 5, 1, 2-13.
Velasco, M.L., Berckmans, I., Villanueva O’Driscoll, J.V., & Loots, G. (2014). A visual narrative research on photographs taken by children living on the street in the city of La Paz–Bolivia. Children and Youth Services Review, 42, 136-146. doi:10.1016/j.childyouth.2014.04.006.
Verelst, A., De Schryver, M., Broekaert, E. & Derluyn, I. (2014). Mental health of victims of sexual violence in eastern Congo: associations with daily stressors, stigma, and labeling. BMC Women’s Health, 14. Article Number: UNSP 106. DOI: 10.1186/1472-6874-14-106.
Verelst, A., De Schryver, M., De Haene, L., Broekaert, E. & Derluyn I (2014). The Mediating Role of Stigmatization in the Mental Health of Adolescent Victims of Sexual Violence in Eastern Congo. Child Abuse & Neglect, 38(7), 1139-1146.
Villanueva O’Driscoll, J., Loots, G., & Derluyn, I. (2013). Children disengaged from armed groups in Colombia: Integration Processes in Context. London, UK: Versita.
Vindevogel, S., Ager, A., Schiltz, J., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2015). Toward a culturally sensitive conceptualization of resilience: participatory research with war-affected communities in northern Uganda. Transcultural Psychiatry. 52(3). p.396-416.
Vindevogel, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2013). `It helps me to transform in my life from the past to the new`. The meaning of resources for former child soldiers. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 28(12), 2413-2436.
Vindevogel, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2014). A global perspective on child soldiering. In J. R. Conte (Ed.), Child Abuse & Neglect Worldwide. Volume 2. Global Responses. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger, pp. 209-240. ISBN 978-1-4408-0090-0.
Vindevogel, S., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2014). Child soldiers. In J. Conte (Ed.), Child abuse & neglect worldwide. Westport, CT: Praeger Publishers.
Vindevogel, S., Coppens, K., De Schryver, M., Loots, G., Broekaert, E., Derluyn, I. (2013). Beyond child soldiering: daily living conditions` interference with former child soldiers` longer term psychosocial well-being in northern Uganda. Global Public Health: An International Journal for Research, Policy and Practice, 8(5), 485-503.
Vindevogel, S., Coppens, K., Derluyn, I., De Schryver, M., Loots, G., & Broekaert, E. (2011). Forced conscription of children during armed conflict: Experiences of former child soldiers in northern Uganda. Child Abuse & Neglect, 35(7), 551-562.
Vindevogel, S., De Schryver, M., Broekaert, E. & Derluyn, I. (2013). War-related experiences of former child soldiers in northern Uganda: comparison with non-recruited youths. Paediatrics and International Child Health, 33, 4, 281-291.
Vindevogel, S., De Schryver, M., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2013). Challenges faced by former child soldiers in the aftermath of war in Uganda. Journal of Adolescent Health, 52, 757-764.
Vindevogel, S., Wessells, M., De Schryver, M., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2014). Dealing with the consequences of war: resources of formerly recruited and non-recruited youth in northern Uganda. Journal of Adolescent Health.
Vindevogel, S., Wessells, M., De Schryver, M., Broekaert, E., & Derluyn, I. (2012). Informal and formal supports for former child soldiers in northern Uganda. The Scientific World Journal, vol. 2012, 10 pages; doi:10.1100/2012/825028.