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)

Introduction and aimsIntimate 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. Design and methodsWe 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. ResultsAt 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 90days 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). Discussion and conclusionThe 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]