Publications

Scholarly Journals--Published

  • Habimana S, Freeman K, Biracyaza E, Lister Z, Montgomery S. Promoting social cohesion, compassion and forgiveness among Rwandan survivors and perpetrators through community resiliency model training: a longitudinal randomized comparison study. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2026 Dec;17(1):2621634. doi: 10.1080/20008066.2026.2621634. Epub 2026 Feb 16. PMID: 41693696; PMCID: PMC12912240. HIGHLIGHTS More than 30 years after the genocide in Rwanda, survivors and released perpetrators continue to struggle with trauma and broken social relationships, impacting community life. This study shows that the Community Resiliency Model can effectively enhance social cohesion, compassion, forgiveness, and resilience, whether implemented with only survivors, only perpetrators, or in mixed groups. All groups improved in social functioning over time, including the Mixed groups were both genocide survivors and perpetrators participated in the training together, promising the possibility of collective healing involving both survivors and released perpetrators, from Rwanda. (02/2026) (link)
  • Habimana S, Lister Z, Biracyaza E, Freeman K, Montgomery S. Longitudinal randomized comparison study on the community resiliency model for addressing mental health challenges in survivors and perpetrators of genocide in Rwanda. Discov Ment Health. 2026 Jan 23;6(1):26. doi: 10.1007/s44192-026-00376-w. PMID: 41575623; PMCID Abstract Background: In a post-genocide context, mental health disorders among Rwandan genocide survivors and released perpetrators remain a critical concern. To date, no study has evaluated the effectiveness of the Community Resiliency Model (CRM) skills in addressing the mental health needs of both groups simultaneously. This study assessed the impact of CRM when delivered to a combined group of survivors and perpetrators, compared to groups trained separately. Methods: A total of 152 participants were recruited from Nyamagabe district, Rwanda. Participants were assigned into three groups including genocide survivors (n = 51), released genocide perpetrators (n = 51), and a combined group of both survivors and perpetrators (n = 50). Data were collected at three points: pre-intervention, immediately post-intervention, and six months post-intervention using validated psychometric scales for anxiety, depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), emotional dysregulation, and anger. Repeated measures ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests were used to analyze changes over time. A statistical significance of p < 0.005 and p < 0.001 was applied. Results: Our findings showed significant reduction of anxiety (F = 20.17, p < 0.001), depression (F = 37.03, p < 0.001), anger (F = 95.97, p < 0.001), and emotional dysregulation (F = 76.68, p < 0.001) across all groups of participants. These positive changes were sustained at 6 months post-intervention for anxiety, depression, anger, and emotional dysregulation. In contrast, PTSD symptoms only showed a slight, non-significant reduction over time (F = 0.59, p = 0.44). Additionally, there were no significant differences in outcomes between groups that received the intervention separately (survivor-only or perpetrator only) and those that received it in mixed survivor-perpetrator groups. Conclusion: Although the CRM intervention does not replace psychotherapy, it produced lasting and positive effects on mental health symptoms among both genocide survivors and perpetrators, particularly in reducing anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Importantly, outcomes did not differ whether the intervention was delivered to separate or combined groups. A randomized controlled trial is recommended to further evaluate the long-term effects of CRM on community healing and cohesion. Keywords: Community resiliency model; Mental health symptoms; Post-genocide; Released genocide perpetrators; Survivors. (01/2026) (link)
  • Maud Joachim-Célestin,  Brian Distelberg, Samuel Habimana ,Eufracina Lizbeth Rivas and Susanne Montgomery,(2025). Supporting healthy weight in times of crisis: results of a one-year community health worker-led intervention among food (in) secure low-income Latinas. Background: The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in a major health crisis, one that left the US healthcare system overburdened and with persisting health disparities between certain groups. A group that was and remains disproportionately affected is low-income Latino women (Latinas), especially those with food insecurity. Community health worker (CHW)-led interventions have been successful at improving the results of interventions among disadvantaged populations but their efficacy during times of crisis is not clear. Our purpose was to assess the one-year effects of an intervention for low-income overweight/obese Latinas delivered by CHWs during the first year of the pandemic. Results between food insecure and food secure individuals are compared. Methods: For this non-equivalent multi-method/mixed methods study, overweight/obese low-income Latinas (N = 62) living in Southern California attended a weight-management lifestyle intervention led by trained CHWs. The intervention began immediately prior to the pandemic and lasted for a year. Hemoglobin A1C and biometric measurements were collected in three months intervals from baseline. Baseline to one-year post results are the focus of this paper. Qualitative feedback from participants is also analyzed and compared. Results: Participants’ weight and waist circumference improved (p = .004 and p = .005, respectively) with younger participants experiencing larger improvements. However, those experiencing food insecurity benefited as much as food secure participants at one year follow-up. Weight loss was attributed mainly to social/emotional support and increased knowledge. Conclusion: While most of their fellow community-members gained weight, obese and overweight low-income, food insecure Latinas enrolled in a CHW-led intervention were able to lose weight and reduce their risk of obesity-related chronic diseases during the peak of the pandemic. Supplementary Information: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-025-24825-3. Keywords: COVID-19 pandemic; Community health workers; Economic crises; Food insecurity; Health crisis; Health disparities; Latino women; Obesity; Weight management intervention. (10/2025) (link)
  • Biracyaza, E., & Habimana, S. (2025). Parenting practices in occupational justice lens in the post-genocide context: more than 31 years after a genocide against the Tutsi in Rwanda. Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences, Volume 6 - 2025 | https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2025.149841     (05/2025) (link)
  • Kubana, E., Munyaneza, A., Sande, S., Nduhuye, F., Karangwa, J.B., Mwesigye, D., Ndagijimana, E., Habimana, S. and Munyanshongore, C., (2023). “A comparative analysis of risk factors of malaria” case study Gisagara and Bugesera District of Rwanda. RDHS 2014/2015. A retrospective study. BMC Public Health, 23(1), p.168. (10/2023)
  • Habimana S, Biracyaza E, Mpunga T, Nsabimana E, Kayitesi F, Nzamwita P, Jansen S. Prevalence and associated factors of depression and anxiety among patients with cancer seeking treatment at the Butaro Cancer Center of Excellence in Rwanda. Front Public Health. 2023 16th February; 11: 972360.doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.972360. PMID: 36875374; PMCID: PMC9978744. (02/2023)
  •  Habimana S, Biracyaza E, Habumugisha E, Museka E, Mutabaruka J, Montgomery SB. Role of Community Resiliency Model Skills Trainings in Trauma Healing Among 1994 Tutsi Genocide Survivors in Rwanda. Psychol Res Behav Manag. 2021 30th July; 14: 1139-1148.doi: 10.2147/PRBM.S319057. PMID: 34354379; PMCID: PMC8331195. (10/2021)
  • Biracyaza, E., Habimana, S. Contribution of community-based sociotherapy interventions for the psychological wellbeing of Rwandan youths born to genocide perpetrators and survivors: analysis of the storytelling of a sociotherapy approach. BMC Psychology 8, 102 (2020). Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1186/s40359-020-00471-9   (10/2021)
  • Biracyaza E, Habimana S, Rusengamihigo D, Evans H. Regular antenatal care visits were associated with low risk of low birth weight among newborns in Rwanda: Evidence from the 2014/2015 Rwanda Demographic Health Survey (RDHS) Data." F1000Res. 2021 19th May; 10:402. doi: 10.12688/f1000research.51969.2. PMID: 36406958; PMCID: PMC9641107.   (05/2021)
  • Biracyaza E, Habimana S, Rusengamihigo D. Psychometric Properties of the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) in Cancer Patients: Cancer Patients from Butaro Ambulatory Cancer Center, Rwanda." Psychology Research and Behavior Management. 2021; 14:665-674. Available from https://doi.org/10.2147/PRBM.S306530 (05/2021)
  • Habimana S, Biracyaza E. (2019). Risk Factors of Stunting Among Children Under 5 Years of Age in the Eastern and Western Provinces of Rwanda: Analysis of Rwanda Demographic and Health Survey 2014/2015. Pediatric Health Me. 2019 October 25; 10: 115-130.doi: 10.2147/PHMT.S222198. PMID: 31695558; PMCID: PMC6821046. (10/2019)
  • Biracyaza, E., Mutabaruka, J., Habimana, S. (2019). Validation of Anxiety Sensitivity Index (ASI-16) on a Nonclinical Sample of Rwandans: A cross-sectional study. International Journal of Behavioral Sciences, 12(4), 176-182. Available from http://www.behavsci.ir/article_89156.html (10/2019)

Books and Chapters

  • Habimana, S., & Biracyaza, E. (2024). Sociocultural practices for resilience and recovery. In P. Waldron-Moore (Ed.), Designing knowledge economies for disaster resilience: Case studies from the African diaspora (1st ed., Vol. 7, pp. 130). Berghahn Books. https://doi.org/10.2307/jj.6879752 (10/2024)
  • Habimana S, Biracyaza, E., Mutabaruka J, Habumugisha E, Museka E, Montgomery S (2020). Role of Community Resiliency Model (CRM) skills training in trauma healing among 1994 Tutsi genocide survivors in Rwanda. Pratiques Basées sur la Résilience. First edit. Marseille, Ionescu S, Hubert Mazurek.Aix-Marseille Université. (10/2020)

Online Publications

  • Habimana,S.,Lister,Z.,Jansen,S.,Biracyaza,E.,Ndagijimana,A.,Kagaba,K., Rutembesa,E.,& Montgomery,S. (2024). Profile of risk factors for injecting drug use among the sample at high risk of HIV/AIDS in Kigali, Rwanda. Springer Science and Business Media LLC.2004.  https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-5278497/v1 (10/2024)
  • Habimana, S and Draus, P., Qureshi, S., Roddy,J., Biracyaza, E., Rutembesa, E., Lacey, K., Montgomery, S,(2023). Green Space and Mental Wellbeing in Rwanda: An Exploratory Cross-Sectional Study." Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4340408 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4340408   (10/2024)