Abstract The coping strategies of refugees is an area that is rarely explored, particularly with refugees who are currently living in refugee camps and with women refugees. This study builds knowledge in this area by examining the literature on coping strategies in refugees, with a focus on the currently literature regarding East African refugees. A qualitative study interviewing thirty adult refugee women living in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya in May 2011 examined the reported experience of refugee women and their coping strategies. The three central areas of discussion for the study were informal social support, the role of the women's beliefs, and formal supports in the camp and how these items contributed to coping strategies. Several strategies similar to those in the literature were reported by the women, especially the use of religious or spiritual beliefs and in some cases assistance from friends and family. Much of what the women reported was related to coping with physical needs such as lack of food, instead of emotional needs, as was the intension of the study. Formal support that assisted in filling these physical needs was a major point of discussion for the women interviewed. In addition to the themes around coping strategies, the qualitative analysis of the words of the refugee women from this study brought out a theme of dependency. Due to the structure of the refugee camps, the long term waiting for a solution, and the disruption of cultural and social structures, refugees often end up becoming dependent on the physical assistance from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and other aid groups. The difficulties that arise from dependency and recommendations regarding this issue conclude the study. Social work practice, policy and research recommendations are given around both the areas of coping and dependency issues.
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