UMAI-WINGS: Evaluating the Effectiveness of Implementing mHealth Intimate Partner Violence Prevention Intervention in Reducing Intimate Partner Violence Among Women from Key Affected Populations in Kazakhstan Using a Community-Based Approach

Terlikbayeva A. Primbetova S. Gatanaga O.S. Chang M. Rozental Y. Nurkatova M. Baisakova Z. Bilokon Y. Karan S.E. Dasgupta A. Gilbert L.
May 2025 Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (MDPI)

Behavioral Sciences
2025 #15 Issue 5

Key affected populations (KAPs), including women who use drugs, engage in sex work, or live with HIV, are disproportionately affected by HIV, gender-based violence, substance use, and mental health. In Kazakhstan, they face significantly higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV), with prevalence ranging from 45% to 75% compared to the national average of 27%, alongside barriers to accessing IPV services. This community-level implementation trial with a waitlist control group evaluated the effectiveness, safety, and acceptability of a self-paced mobile health intervention (UMAI-WINGS) for women from KAPs in Kazakhstan. The study enrolled 508 women, with 306 in Almaty City (intervention) and 200 in Almaty Oblast (waitlist control). IPV rates (physical, sexual, and psychological) were assessed at baseline and 6-months post-intervention. Participants in the intervention community were significantly less likely to report psychological (−23.0%), sexual (−27.0%), and physical IPV (−29.0%) at the 6-month follow-up compared to the control group. These results demonstrate the potential of digital, community-driven interventions to reduce IPV among marginalized women and offer a scalable, evidence-based model for implementation. The success of the UMAI-WINGS underscores the value of community-based, mobile health approaches for advancing trauma-informed, survivor-centered care and closing critical service gaps for underserved populations.

community coalitions , gender-based violence , intimate partner violence , Kazakhstan , key populations

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Center of Scientific and Practical Initiatives, 38B, Shashkina Str., Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, 10027, NY, United States
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Department of Sociology and Social Work, Faculty of Philosophy and Political Science, Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, Almaty, 050040, Kazakhstan
Department of Health Systems and Population Health, School of Public Health, University of Washington, Seattle, 98195, WA, United States
Social Intervention Group, School of Social Work, Columbia University, New York, 10027, NY, United States
Crisis Center Union, Almaty, 050012, Kazakhstan
Public Foundation “Revansh”, Almaty, 050038, Kazakhstan
Department of Sociomedical Sciences, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, 10032, NY, United States

Center of Scientific and Practical Initiatives
School of Social Work
Global Health Research Center of Central Asia
Department of Sociology and Social Work
Department of Health Systems and Population Health
Social Intervention Group
Crisis Center Union
Public Foundation “Revansh”
Department of Sociomedical Sciences

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