Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 37, Number 11, 1 November 2020 — Domestic Violence Spikes During Pandemic [ARTICLE]

Domestic Violence Spikes During Pandemic

By 0ffice of Hawaiian Affairs Staff The Native Hawaiian COVID-19 Research Hui (a collaboration between the Ofhce of Hawaiian Affairs, Kamehameha Schools and Lili'uokalani Trust), in partnership with the Domestic Violence Action Center (DVAC), recently published a report illuminating an important yet under-addressed consequence of the COVID19 pandemic: the rise of intimate partner violence, particularly among the Native Hawaiian populahon. The report, "Native Hawaiians At-Risk of Intimate Partner Violence During COVID-19," examines the increase in both domestic and intimate partner violence in the state of Hawai 'i, a trend that is reflected globally. Due to stay-at-home and various quarantine mandates, domestic violence survivors have been forced to stay in the home or be in close proximity to their abusers more frequently. The increased stress resulting from these mandates has increased the incidents of abuse. Between March and October 2020, Hawai'i's DVAC Helpline reported a 46% increase in calls. While domestic violence is not limited to certain ethnicities, cultures or socioeeonomie groups, in Hawai'i Native Hawaiian adults have disproportionately reported greater rates of intimate partner violence, both physieal and sexual, than the rest of the population during the COVID-19 pandemic. That said, the rise of domestic violenee is not solely a Native Hawaiian eoneem. In particular, Paeihe Islander and Caucasian communities in

Hawai'i also reported higher rates of intimate partner violenee. Limited access to eulturally based medical and mental heahh care, increased eeonomie stress, historical trauma, and racialized structures of inequality linked to legacies of colonization and imperialism all contribute to this trend. The intersections of other social issues such as homelessness and poverty compound the risk of intimate partner violence in Hawai'i. Other vulnerabilities such as pregnancy or youth status ean also result in higher rates of abuse. The COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated the conditions that increase the risks of intimate partner violence, adding to known (and preexisting) risk factors such as poverty, ineome inequality, laek of educational opportunities, and limited access to quality healthcare. To combat this trend, building protective factors such as increasing eultural resilience, social support, and community cohesion ean reduce the overall rate and help to address intimate partner violence among Native Hawaiians. Domestic violence is chronically under-reported. If you or someone you know is experiencing intimate partner violence, help is available. For more information, contact the Domestic Violence Action Center at: https://domesticviolenceactioncenter.org/ or eall them at 808-531-3771 (O'ahu); 800-690-6200 (toll-free helpline); or text 605-956-5680. To read the full report go to: https://sites.google.com/ ksbe.edu/nh-covidl9/inti-mate-partner-violence ■

Native Hawaiians experience high rates of intimate partner violence.

■ Like other lndigenous and marginalized peoples, Native Hawaiians in the State of Hawai'i report relatively high rates of intimate partner violence when compared to non-Hawaiians and the total state population. It is important to note that limited aecess to culturally based medical and mental health care, increased eeonomie stresses, experiences of historical trauma, denial of self-determination, and racialized structures of inequality linked to legacies of colonization, imperialism, and dispossession of land are important parts of the context in whieh these choices are made 4 ■ In 2013, 12.6% of Native Hawaiian adults report experiencing physical abuse by an intimate partner, compared to 9.1% of non-Hawaiian adults and 9.5% of the total State of Hawai'i adult population. ■ 4.7% of Native Hawaiian adults report experiencing sexual abuse by an intimate partner, compared to 3.4% of non-Hawaiian adults and 3.6% of the total State of Hawai'i adult population. ■ 13.4% of Native Hawaiian adults report experiencing physical or sexual abuse by an intimate partner, compared to 10.2% non-Hawaiian adults and 10.6% of the total State of Hawai'i adult population. ■ Although rates of intimate partner violence are high among Native Hawaiians, when data are compared with other specific ethnicities, rates are higher among White/Caucasian and Pacific lslander ethnicities in Hawai'i. 4 Oneha, M., Magnussen, L., & Shoultz, J. (2010). The Voices of Native Hawaiian Women: Perceptions, Responses anel Needs Regarding lntimate Partner Violenee. California Journal of Health Promotion. 8(1): 72-81; available at https:// www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3392177/; and Asian Pacific lnstitute. (February 2020). Domestic Violence, Sexual Violence, and Human Trafficking in Native Hawaiian Communities Factsheet available at https://s3.amazonaws. Sheet-Native-Hawaiians-Jan-5 Hawai'i Department of Health, Hawai'i Health Data Warehouse, 2013 Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) Report. This is the most recent data available. Questions on domestic violence were not included in surveys conducted between 2014 and 2018. Additionally, significance testing was not conducted forthis analysis.

Figure 1. Native Hawaiian adults experience intimate partner violence at greater rates than the rest of the population of Hawai'i, 20135 ■ NATIVE HAWAIIAN ■ NON-NATIVE HAWAIIAN ■ STATE TOTAL Physical abuse Sexual abuse Physical abuse or Sexual abuse