Women In Kyrgyzstan Research Articles

Navigating tradition: agency of young urban women in Kyrgyzstan during wedding negotiations and early marriage

ABSTRACT Daughters-in-law (or kelins 1 in the Kyrgyz language) have traditionally been portrayed in Kyrgyz society as holding a low social status, and are commonly subject to oppressive and negative practices within the family structure. This study examines the experiences of young women from urban communities during their wedding preparations and the initial years of living with their husband’s parents. The study investigates the strategies that young women employ during interactions with their in-laws throughout the negotiation and decision-making processes regarding their wedding and future married life. The transcripts of six interviews with recently married women were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA). The findings discuss the respondents’ discursive positions regarding their experiences as brides and daughters-in-law.

Unmet need for contraception among married women in the Kyrgyz Republic using the datasets from the 2006, 2014 and 2018 Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey: a cross-sectional study.

Since the beginning of the family program in 1998, the proportion of married women who used contraception has fluctuated. An unmet need for contraception among women in Kyrgyzstan drastically increased from 2006 (1.1%) to 2014 (19.1%), and remained unchanged until 2018 (19.0%). This study aims to re-investigate the prevalence of an unmet need for contraception from 2006 to 2018 in a comprehensive manner, and examine the factors associated with an unmet need for contraception among married women over the course of 12years in the Kyrgyz Republic. This is a cross-sectional study using secondary data that derived from the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS). The study employed three datasets from the MICS 2006, 2014, and 2018. The study included a total of 9,229 women aged 15-49 who were married and fecund, and whose status of the met/unmet need for contraception could be identified. Logistic regression was employed to estimate the relationship of an unmet need for contraception with independent factors. A P value < 0.05 was set as statistically significant. The prevalence of an unmet need for contraception was 19.9% in 2006, 20.4% in 2014, and 22.5% in 2018. Across 12years, all reversible-contraceptive methods for women constantly declined. Although intrauterine devices were the prominent contraceptive method of usage among Kyrgyz women, the trend of usage drastically decreased over time. Factors associated with unmet need for contraception included women's age, area of residence, mother tongue of household head, age of husband, and number of children ever born. The unmet need for contraception among married Kyrgyz women slightly increased, and the trend of modern contraceptive usage declined from 2006 to 2018, particularly the use of pills, injections, and intra-uterine devices. Comprehensive sexual health education for young people and youth-friendly services should be promoted. An effective and reliable supply chain of contraceptive commodities should be prioritized and strengthened. Regular supportive supervision visits are essential to improve the knowledge and skills of healthcare providers to be able to provide intrauterine device service as a contraceptive choice for Kyrgyz women.

Associations between different forms of intimate partner violence and posttraumatic stress among women who use drugs and alcohol in Kyrgyzstan.

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) have an increased risk of experiencing posttraumatic stress, and the subsequently associated symptoms can vary by form of IPV exposure (i.e., physical, sexual, or psychological IPV). Related research among socially marginalized populations, however, is limited, including among women who use and misuse substances. Drawing on baseline data from a pilot study conducted among 213 women in Kyrgyzstan who reported using drugs or engaging in hazardous alcohol use, we examined the associations between different forms of IPV and severe posttraumatic stress symptoms (PTSS). The vast majority of participants reported lifetime (93.9%, n = 200) and past 3-month (65.3%, n = 139) IPV, and two thirds of participants (65.3%, n = 139) reported experiencing PTSS in the prior month. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated statistically significant associations between only some forms of IPV and PTSS, including physical IPV, adjusted odds ratio (aOR) = 3.24, 95% confidence interval (CI) [1.15, 9.14], and injurious IPV, aOR = 2.71, 95% CI [1.10, 6.65]. Additionally, experiencing any form of IPV was associated with 4.95 higher odds of reporting PTSS, 95% CI [1.16, 21.15]; no other results were significant. These results not only underscore the need for future research on the mechanisms that might explain the unique associations between different forms of IPV and posttraumatic stress, but also highlight an urgent need for trauma-informed mental health and psychosocial support interventions for women who use drugs and alcohol.

Knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) towards seasonal influenza and influenza vaccine among pregnant women in Kyrgyzstan: A cross-sectional study

Influenza is an acute respiratory disease of global importance due to its pandemic potential. Pregnant women are more susceptible to severe illness and adverse outcomes of influenza, and vaccination is the most effective preventive measure for mother and infant. The coverage rate of influenza immunization in Kyrgyzstan is below national targets, despite the World Health Organization’s (WHO) recommendation to prioritize pregnant women for vaccination.This study sought to understand drivers and barriers to influenza vaccine uptake in pregnant women in Kyrgyzstan. A knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) survey was administered from December 2018 to March 2019 to 1,193 pregnant women aged 18 and older attending public health institutions in Kyrgyzstan. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the association between variables and outcomes of interest.Nearly half (56.2 %) of the 1,193 participants expressed willingness to be vaccinated during their current pregnancy. Participants with only a high school education had a significantly greater intention for vaccination (95 % CI: 1.4–3.2, p < 0.005) in the multivariate analysis compared to participants with university degrees. Participants with underlying health conditions had a higher intention of being vaccinated (95 % CI: 1.2–1.9, p < 0.005). The main reason for vaccine refusal was the belief that influenza vaccines could have adverse effects on the fetus (28.4 %); belief that vaccines could harm their pregnancy (24.3 %); and concern about vaccine effectiveness (10.6 %).These findings are important as they can inform targeted strategies and policy updates to facilitate influenza vaccine implementation and improve uptake among pregnant women in Kyrgystan, and may support strengthening of national influenza vaccine programs in other countries in Central Asia.

TRADISI PENCULIKAN PENGANTIN PEREMPUAN DALAM FILM ALAA KACHUU: REPRESENTASI KETIDAKSETARAAN GENDER DI KIRGIZSTAN

This research investigates how two movies, both entitled Ala Kachuu (2018 and 2002), represent ala kachuu, i.e. a tradition of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan. Even though the Kyrgyz government has formally banned this practice since 2016, which is considered as a form of forced marriage, it still exists and is practiced by some Kyrgyz. This research used the qualitative method coupled with the mise-en-scène cinematographic technique. By using Stuart Hall’s representation theory (1997) and Mansour Fakih’s gender inequality theory (2008) as analysis tools, this study concludes that both movies represent ala kachuu as a tradition which promotes gender inequality. Moreover, they also represent it as a tradition that leads to various forms of violence against women in Kyrgyzstan.

Social and Psychological Aspects of Protecting the Rights and Interests of Women in Kyrgyzstan

Social and Psychological Aspects of Protecting the Rights and Interests of Women in Kyrgyzstan

Aspirations and women's empowerment: Evidence from Kyrgyzstan

AbstractThere is an enormous interest in development interventions aimed at reducing behavioural poverty traps, including by raising women's and girls' aspirations, or future‐oriented goals. However, little is known about how women's aspirations influence their gender attitudes, the marriages into which they select and their involvement in intra‐household decision‐making. We find that women in Kyrgyzstan with higher aspirations are more likely to espouse egalitarian gender attitudes, as are their husbands, and their husbands have higher aspirations. They also live in households in which women play a greater role in decision‐making, and in which spouses are more likely to agree about women's roles in decision‐making.

Women in Kyrgyzstan—Electorally Marginalized but Legislatively Influential: A Theory of Transactional Activism

AbstractHow can we understand the signing of legislation targeting violence against women in postcommunist countries where women are electorally marginalized? Although women are underrepresented in Kyrgyzstan, the country's parliament has passed bride theft and domestic violence legislation. This article proposes a theory of transactional activism: in postcommunist countries where women are electorally marginalized, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) can instigate legislative change if the state satisfies three necessary conditions permitting lateral links between NGOs working on behalf of women and vertical links between these nonstate actors and critical actors in parliament. The state must (1) establish a regulatory framework for NGO activity permitting the articulation and representation of women's interests; (2) demonstrate a rhetorical commitment to improving women's lives; and (3) facilitate the election to parliament of critical actors sympathetic to women's interests. In other words, women's substantive representation can occur without strong descriptive representation in the formal legislative arena if the state satisfies these conditions.

Marriage traditions and investment in education: The case of bride kidnapping

The cultural practice of bride kidnapping in Kyrgyzstan may alter the returns to education for young women in an ambiguous direction due to two competing effects. On the one hand, women facing a risk of kidnapping may reduce education investment due to uncertain returns. Alternatively, since kidnapping is less likely to occur while a woman is in school, women may increase education investment to lower their personal risk of being kidnapped into marriage. Understanding how education is affected by kidnapping risk allows us to better anticipate changes in education when the laws are enforced and the risk declines. We develop a two-period utility model to highlight the effects of kidnapping risk on education and to help identify those girls who are most likely to increase their education when faced with positive regional kidnapping risk and thus most likely to reduce education if the risk is eliminated. We test the implications of the theory empirically using the Life in Kyrgyzstan data. Difference-in-difference regression results point to a negative relationship between regional kidnapping rates and education, suggesting that the elimination of kidnapping is likely to induce higher education rates of women in Kyrgyzstan. The results are informative to the literature at the intersection of marriage traditions, women's bargaining power and education attainment.

Bride Kidnapping: A Deplorable Custom Repressing Women in Kyrgyzstan

Bride kidnapping or 'Ala Kachuu’ is an abhorrent custom repressing the lives of women in Kyrgyzstan. Men kidnap women whom they wish to be their future wives, such is done without their consent. Even though it is treated as a custom, this bride kidnapping custom or tradition has no known roots in the traditions and customs of the Kyrgyz people. Laws have been made, reports submitted, investigations done but much is still the same. Kyrgyzstan is a party to the Convention on Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).

Reproductive decisions as mediators between education and employment of women in Kyrgyzstan

Researchers created a large body of evidence showing that education and fertility are strong determinants of women’s employment. In postsocialist economies, women’s reproductive decisions have become more critical to employment opportunities. Yet the issue is not well-understood. The researchers focus on the mediating roles of reproductive decisions on the relationship between education and employment among Kyrgyzstani women. The study data come from the 2012 Demographic and Health Survey (N = 2419). Consistent with other research, more education was associated with fewer number of children and being employed. An unexpected finding was that having more children was associated with increased employment.

The role of gender-based violence, health worries, and ambivalent sexism in the development of women's gynecological symptoms.

This article explored the role of a lifetime history of gender-based violence, ambivalent sexism, and gynecological health worries in the development of reproductive and sexual symptoms among women in Kyrgyzstan. Non-pregnant women who were patients of gynecological clinics (N = 143) participated in the study. A positive relationship between the experience of any type of violence (physical, sexual, and emotional) and number of gynecological symptoms was found. Hostile sexism was found to be a predictor of the number of reported symptoms. The number of gynecological health worries was found to fully mediate the relationship between history of gender-based violence and number of gynecological symptoms.

An exploratory study of economic abuse among substance-involved women in Kyrgyzstan, Central Asia

ABSTRACTBackground: Despite accumulating evidence on the disproportionate prevalence of different forms of gender-based violence among substance-involved women, financial or economic abuse has been understudied.Objectives: We examine the prevalence of economic abuse by intimate and non-intimate partners among a sample of 55 substance-involved women in Kyrgyzstan, and the relationship between economic abuse and socio-demographic characteristics and other types of gender-based violence.Methods: Descriptive, bivariate, and correlation analyses are used to examine the main research questions.Results: 89% of the sample experienced at least one incident of economic abuse in their lifetime by either an intimate or non-intimate partner. Subscale analyses revealed that 74.5%, 85.5%, and 63.6% of women experienced at least one incident of economic exploitation, economic control, and employment sabotage in their lifetime, respectively. Bivariate analyses indicated significant associations between economic abuse and age, ethnicity, parental status, and injection drug use. Partner psychological abuse was correlated with economic control, whereas non-intimate partner psychological and physical violence were associated with economic exploitation and employment sabotage.Conclusions: Findings highlight an urgent need to include economic abuse in surveillance efforts, and the need to develop economic empowerment strategies for substance-involved women.

Choice, Inclusion, and Access to Information: Understanding Female Farmers’ Participation in Kyrgyzstan’s Water-User Associations

Participatory processes have been widely promoted within the field of natural resource management as a method of supporting efficient resource use and, within these processes, much emphasis has been placed on gendered participation. In Kyrgyzstan, participation in irrigation management is organized through water-user associations (WUAs), a decentralized system of management commonly prescribed to increase equity and efficiency in water distribution. Women in Kyrgyzstan are active in irrigated agriculture particularly in light of changing demographics due to labor migration, yet they make up a small percentage of the members and leaders in these WUAs. This study draws upon interviews with WUA officials, village leaders, and female farmers in five communities in southern Kyrgyzstan to examine the determinants of female farmers’ participation in WUAs. We argue that female farmers are strategic in how they choose to irrigate outside of the WUAs as users or participate in WUAs as members or leaders, however their gender, age, and class limits their access to information about WUAs and inclusion in WUA activities. These findings suggest the need to reassess participatory processes in WUAs in order to increase female farmers’ inclusion in WUAs and demonstrates the complexity of gendered participation in natural resource management.

Women’s strategies for coping with the impacts of domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan: A grounded theory study

ABSTRACTThis paper provides an account of the adverse impacts of domestic violence on women in Kyrgyzstan and develops a grounded theory of coping among survivors of abuse. The results indicate that women adopt a range of strategies to prevent, avert, and minimize anticipated violence. Two key aspects of coping appeared in the narratives: 1) maintaining the status quo and 2) developing agency to resist the abuse. The results suggest that Government and nongovernmental organizations must take additional action to draw women to formal violence prevention services. Providing professional help at several levels (e.g., clinical, community, and societal) and promoting problem-focused strategies as part of therapeutic intervention are essential.

“All the System is Simply a Soap Bubble”: Legal Help-Seeking for Domestic Violence Among Women in Kyrgyzstan

This paper examines limitations in how law enforcement and public health systems respond to domestic violence in Kyrgyzstan. Findings from interviews with domestic violence victims show that these women are subject to ineffectual practices and negative attitudes that tend to minimize domestic abuse and disempower victims. The findings reveal several problematic issues: inconsistencies in the implementation of the law, impunity for abusers because of both personal attitudes and social affinities between the police and abusers, ineffective enforcement of protective orders, and superficial processing of domestic violence cases by the legal system. Additional barriers to help-seeking include a lack of institutional support and guidelines for offering mental health services for victims as well as a scarcity of housing, childcare, and employment opportunities for women seeking to break the cycle of abuse. The findings underscore the need for society-wide changes in attitudes toward domestic violence, stricter mechanisms for enforcing the law, and mandatory training for service providers to facilitate the provision of more accessible and affirmative support to victims.

Assessment of the provision of iodine supply to pregnant and lactating women in Kyrgyzstan

Aim . To determine the effectiveness of the implementation of the National Program for the Prevention of Iodine Deficiency Disorders in the Kyrgyz Republic for 2010–2014, the iodine sufficiency of the country’s population and the main risk groups – pregnant and lactating women – was assessed. Methods . 1815 samples of dietary salt have been examined for iodine content through an iodometric titration method at the level of production and sale and in public catering. Urinary iodine was assessed among 139 pregnant women and 151 lactating women through a cerium arsenit method at the laboratory of the Kazakh Academy of Nutrition, which is involved with a Global network on quality control EQUIP. Results . It was determined that 76.6% of salt was supplied by local enterprises and 23.4% of salt was of foreign origin. The iodine content was below 25 mg/kg in 55% of salt samples; in 2% of salt samples the iodine content was more than 55 mg/kg, and only in 43% of salt samples the iodine content corresponded to GOST (40 ± 15 mg/kg). The average iodine content in salt samples collected from the households of pregnant and lactating women was 19.8 mg/kg, which is twice lower than the standard prescribed by GOST (40 mg/kg), and in 2/3 of salt samples iodine content was below the threshold level of 25 mg/kg. The median of urinary iodine among pregnant women was 103 mg/l, and among lactating women – 91.6 mg/l, which is indicative of inadequate iodine provision. Conclusion . Current measures to improve the quality of iodized salt in Kyrgyzstan are insufficient.

Social Transfers and Women's Labour Supply in Kyrgyzstan

The paper examines social transfers and their influence on the labour supply of women in Kyrgyzstan. Social transfers in cash and in kind in place in Kyrgyzstan absorbed 5.7% of GDP in 2012. They include subsidies to social insurance pensioners, transfers to population groups considered vulnerable or deserving, and transfers to families with children in extreme poverty. Social transfers are generally pro-old and maternalist in orientation, and therefore strongly gendered. Using data from the Life in Kyrgyzstan survey, the paper throws light on whether social transfers are associated with labour supply decisions of women at the extensive and intensive margins, and with birth spacing. The results indicate that social assistance transfers are associated with lower probabilities of participation and hours for women and marginally increase the relative risk giving birth.

Migration and patrilineal descent: the role of women in Kyrgyzstan

Migration processes in Kyrgyzstan have given rise to fundamental social and demographic changes, meaning that many villages and town quarters are inhabited nowadays solely by women, children and the elderly, whereas younger and middle-aged men live as migrants elsewhere. This article explores the role of women in the maintenance of a strong patrilineal descent system, in the absence of their husbands or sons. This is achieved by grandmothers who play a significant role in transmitting oral genealogies and passing stories on to their children. Another role of women lies in changing the names of male relatives of their husbands; while appointing whom one should marry is also of great importance. The role of mothers-in-law in the formation of their sons' marriage ties in the latter's absence points to the powerful positions of these women. The final point is that young brides continue to live with their parents-in-law – even if their husband does not – and they must be respectful brides.

Russian women in Kyrgyzstan

Abstract This article, based on intensive fieldwork carried out in two villages in northern Issyk-Kul in Kyrgyzstan between 1992 and 1994, examines interethnic relations in this republic of the former Soviet Union. It looks, in particular, at the position of the local Russian-speaking diaspora as it copes with the challenges of the new realities it faces. Some historical background, as well as Kyrgyz views on the status of women, religion, mixed marriages, and language, contribute to understanding Russian adaptive strategies and attitudes. The articles portrays the situation as it is perceived by women, who are usually more “visible” than men and are more active and influential agents of interethnic communication.