Improving Welfare of Internally Displace Persons in Benue State, Nigeria through the Provision of Psycho-Social Support Programmes
Abstract

The study examined improving the welfare of internally displaced persons in Benue State, Nigeria, through the provision of psychosocial support programs. This study was necessary because there is a lack of specific research on the effectiveness of psychosocial support programs for internally displaced persons (IDPs) in camps within Benue State, Nigeria. The study aimed to evaluate the types of psychosocial interventions provided and their impact on the welfare and recovery of IDPs in this particular context. Addressing this gap can inform the development of more effective and context-specific psychosocial support programs tailored to the needs of IDPs in Benue State. The population of the study was 4271, which, using the Glenn (1992) formula, was narrowed down to 388. A questionnaire was used as an instrument to retrieve data from the respondents. At the end of the distribution and retrieval of the questionnaire, 374 were valid for analysis. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Findings showed that there are various types of psychosocial support programs provided to improve the welfare of IDPs in camps within Benue State, Nigeria. In the same vein, the finding shows that psychosocial interventions have a positive impact on the mental health and well-being of IDPs in camps. Based on the findings, the study concludes that involuntary displacement resulting from conflict, violence, or natural disasters can significantly affect the mental health and overall well-being of impacted individuals. It has recommended that there is a need to implement evidencebased and culturally appropriate psychosocial interventions among internally displaced populations in Benue State and all affected states in Nigeria.

Citation
Idegwu Harmony. Improving Welfare of Internally Displace Persons in Benue State, Nigeria through the Provision of Psycho-Social Support Programmes. International Journal of Continuing and Non-Formal Education (IJCNFE), 11, 502-515.