Perception of Psychological Support among Gendarmes who Experienced Traumatic Events while Carrying out their Duties in Abidjan (Ivory Coast)

Abstract

This research examines the perception of psychological support among gendarmes who have experienced traumatic events in the performance of their duties. As the economic capital and most populous city in Côte d'Ivoire, Abidjan faces numerous security challenges (delinquency, terrorism, criminality, etc.) that place the armed forces at the forefront. Through a series of interviews, we collected data from a sample of seven male gendarmes selected using a purposive sampling technique. The interviews were analysed using several methods: content analysis, phenomenological method, and comprehensive method. The results obtained show that the perception of psychological care is strongly influenced by institutional, sociocultural, and individual factors. Masculinity norms, the stigma associated with seeking psychological help, lack of awareness of available resources, and fear of professional repercussions constitute major obstacles to accessing psychological care. Overall, this study highlights the importance of confidentiality, social pressures and satisfaction in the perception of gendarmes towards psychological care services. It also highlights the challenges related to stigma and the need for adapted services for the better psychological well-being of gendarmes.