Domestic Violence Strikes American Indians More Often, Says NIH

American Indian women are more than twice as likely to be raped by a domestic partner, a National Institutes of Heath report says. The study, examining domestic violence, is one of the first to isolate the racial makeup of the victims.

Nearly 38 percent of all American Indian women, and twelve percent of American Indian men reported being victims to domestic violence. Nearly sixteen percent of the American Indian women reported being raped by their intimate partner.

Three general categories were isolated in the report – rape, assault and stalking. In all three categories, American Indians were the highest reported victims. American Indian men are over 150% more likely to suffer domestic violence, again, one of the highest reported ethnic groups.

The report suggests that more study into the issue needs to be made, including examining the racial makeup of the attackers involved. But it does urge tribal leaders to make domestic violence programs a top priority.