Adapting myPlan for Kyrgyzstan: Perceptions of the content, feasibility, and usability of a technology-based intervention

Adapting myPlan for Kyrgyzstan: Perceptions of the content, feasibility, and usability of a technology-based intervention Adapting myPlan for Kyrgyzstan: Perceptions of the content, feasibility, and usability of a technology-based intervention Background and Rationale. One of the most serious and damaging aspects of womens development and family problems in Kyrgyzstan is violence against women. It has enormous negative effects on health and social wellbeing of women and families and has tremendous socio-economic costs and negative multiplier effects throughout the society.75-78 Kyrgyzstan is currently 81st out of 144 countries in the world in terms of its gender gap79 and is 120th out of 188 countries of the world for human development indicators80. The rising level of poverty and deterioration in womens access to social/health services have resulted in growing prevalence rates and new manifestations of VAW, particularly trafficking in persons, bride-kidnapping, and domestic violence. Research shows1-4 that women face significant barriers to disclosing violence because of cultural and social norms that support or encourage the abuse. As a result, negative consequences are not fully addressed. To increase womens and girls comfort and confidence in disclosing GBV in healthcare and social service settings, survivors need access to skilled providers and tools/resources to confidentially disclose and seek help and support for safety planning, including referrals to appropriate health, legal, and economic services in communities. Methodology. This study uses CBPR approach with mixed-methods design to be implemented over two phases: 1) Formative research, using qualitative methods to inform the adaptation of the app and 2) Development of the app through the synthesis of the Phase 1 findings and cognitive testing to refine language and terminology. This proposed process allows for collection of multiple forms of data to inform adaptation and balance fidelity to the original app while adapting it to the reality of the Kyrgyz context. Goals and outcomes. The project has two goals to be achieved over two-year study: 1) Adapt the content of the web-based myPlan app, an evidence-based, women-centered, personalized safety planning resource, with survivors and social service providers to improve responses to intimate partner violence in Kyrgyzstan; 2) Use cognitive pilot testing to examine usability of the adapted myPlan content with IPV survivors, and refine the adapted content with survivors, concerned friends/family, healthcare, and social work professionals. The main outcomes of the study are: 1) adapted content based on the findings of the working group consultations and qualitative research, and 2) refined and revised adapted content based on the cognitive testing conducted among stakeholder and survivor groups. Time duration. June, 2019 May, 2021 (24 months). Cost. $100,000.00