title: Feasibility and preliminary effects of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model to address gender-based violence among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan: Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety).
abstract: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and other forms of gender-based violence (GBV) are serious public health threats among women who use drugs or engage in binge drinking in Kyrgyzstan. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and preliminary effects of a two-session IPV and GBV screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model (WINGS) with HIV counselling and testing for women who use drugs or engage in binge drinking in Kyrgyzstan, using a pre/post-design.
  
  
  
  We screened 109 women from harm reduction non-government organisations in Kyrgyzstan, of whom 78 were eligible, 73 participated in the intervention study, and 66 completed a 3-month post-intervention follow-up. To assess the effects of the intervention, we used random-effect Poisson and Logistic regression analyses for continuous and dichotomous outcomes respectively.
  
  
  
  At baseline, 73% reported any physical or sexual IPV victimisation, and 60% reported any physical or sexual GBV victimisation in the past year. At the 3-month follow-up, participants reported experiencing 59% fewer physical IPV incidents in the prior 90 days than at baseline (P < 0.001) and 27% fewer physical GBV incidents than at baseline (P < 0.01). From baseline to the 3-month follow-up, participants also reported a 65% reduction in the odds of using any illicit drugs (P < 0.05) and were more likely to report receiving GBV-related services (P < 0.001).
  
  
  
  The high rates of participation, attendance and retention and significant reductions in IPV and GBV victimisation and drug use from baseline to the 3-month follow-up suggest the feasibility and promising effects of this brief intervention. [Gilbert L, Jiwatram-Negron T, Nikitin D, Rychkova O, McCrimmon T, Ermolaeva I, Sharonova N, Mukambetov A, Hunt T. Feasibility and preliminary effects of a screening, brief intervention and referral to treatment model to address gender-based violence among women who use drugs in Kyrgyzstan: Project WINGS (Women Initiating New Goals of Safety). Drug Alcohol Rev 2017;36:125-133].
authors: Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Louisa
authors: L
authors: Gilbert
authors: Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Tina
authors: T
authors: Jiwatram-Negron
authors: Global Research Institute, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
authors: Danil
authors: D
authors: Nikitin
authors: Open Society Foundations, New York, USA.
authors: Olga
authors: O
authors: Rychkova
authors: Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Tara
authors: T
authors: McCrimmon
authors: Asteria Foundation, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
authors: Irena
authors: I
authors: Ermolaeva
authors: The Podruga Foundation, Osh, Kyrgyzstan.
authors: Nadejda
authors: N
authors: Sharonova
authors: Open Society Foundations, Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan.
authors: Aibek
authors: A
authors: Mukambetov
authors: Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Columbia University, New York, USA.
authors: Timothy
authors: T
authors: Hunt
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D063425:Binge Drinking / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology; D003376:Counseling / Q000379:methods; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D000074386:Gender-Based Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D040261:Harm Reduction; D006801:Humans; D000066511:Intimate Partner Violence / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000523:psychology / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007707:Kyrgyzstan / Q000453:epidemiology; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D019966:Substance-Related Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000523:psychology
keywords: gender-based violence; intimate partner violence; screening; substance use; women