Economic Abuse Among a Sample of Substance-Involved Women in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia: Findings from a Pilot Study

Background and Purpose: Despite accumulating evidence on the prevalence and effects of different forms of gender-based violence (intimate and non-intimate partner), including physical, sexual, and psychological violence, financial or economic abuse as a unique form of abuse has been understudied. Recent evidence from U.S.-based studies suggests economic abuse, like other forms of violence, is not only common, but compromises women’s health and is linked to poor outcomes. Despite some recent attention to economic abuse, studies have been limited in that most have been conducted in the U.S., and have only examined economic abuse by intimate partners. This paper examines the prevalence of economic abuse by partners (current or former) and others (i.e. non-intimate partners) among a sample of 55 substance-involved women in Kyrgyzstan enrolled in a brief screening and intervention study.

Methods: 55 substance-involved women in Osh and Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan were enrolled into a brief GBV screening and intervention study. Each participant completed a computerized assisted baseline survey, and the 2-session facilitated intervention. Data reported here are from the baseline assessment. Participants were asked a range of questions pertaining to several indicators, including their socio-demographics and experience with multiple forms of violence. Using a shortened version of the Scale of Economic Abuse (SEA) (Adams et al., 2008), modified for cultural relevance and context, we examined the lifetime prevalence of economic abuse by partners and others. Each question was coded into dichotomous (yes/no) variables and examined individually and together, using descriptive statistics. We then combined questions into three subscales (Postmus et al., 2012) to examine the prevalence of economic control, exploitation, and employment sabotage.

Results: 85% and 65% of women in the sample experienced at least one incident of economic abuse in their lifetime by a partner and others, respectively. Together, 89% (n=49) of the sample experienced at least one incident of economic abuse by partners or others. The most frequently reported type of economic abuse by partners/others included having had financial information withheld from them (80%) and having money needed for rent or bills spent without consent (69%). The most severe forms of economic abuse experienced by partners/others included being beaten up if they wanted to go to work (45.5%) and being threatened to leave work (41%).

Subscale analyses revealed that 74.5%, 85.5%, and 63.6% of women experienced at least one incident of economic exploitation (e.g. having debt built in their name), economic control (e.g. being demanded to turn over receipts or change from money spent), and employment sabotage (e.g. being threatened to leave work) in their lifetime, respectively.

Conclusions and Implications: The findings demonstrate high prevalence of economic abuse among a sample of substance-involved women in Kyrgyzstan, and an urgent need for widespread surveillance, and in-depth research on this unique form of abuse inclusive of perpetration by partners and non-partners. Additionally, the data carries important implications regarding women’s ability to obtain and maintain safety, including economic participation/independence and ability to negotiate safe sex, among others. Finally, the findings have implications for intervention design, including scaling up economic empowerment strategies.