Native Americans Violence against Native American women is one of society’s most prevalent healthcare concerns. Women living on reservations present unique situations because of laws governing territorial and jurisdictional rights. Another issue is the accuracy of data reporting, which is not gathered or maintained by federal organizations or Native American agencies. Currently, 560 tribes are recognized by the federal government in the United States (Futures Without Violence, n.d.). According to the National Institute of Justice (NIJ; 2016b), four out of five Native American women suffer some form of domestic or sexual violence in their lifetime. The report also indicates that one in three Native American and Alaska Native women experienced violence last year. That number represents 730,000 women in these Native American nations that have experienced violence (NIJ, 2016b). As a result of many factors (repression, tribal laws, poverty, lack of medical or social support, and victims’ lack of trust outside their community), it is postulated that these Men and domestic violence Little research has been conducted investigating men as victims in abusive relationships. Approximately one in nine men experience severe intimate partner violence, sexual violence, or stalking. One in 71 men has been raped in their lifetime. Sexual violence, in the form of rape of men, was initiated by an acquaintance (44.9% of victims) or an intimate partner (29% of the victims; National Coalition Against Domestic Violence [NCADV], n.d.). Abused men may not report it for fear that they will not be believed or feel alone in experiencing this type of control. Men may not view the abuse as controlling behavior, nor do they feel a crime has been committed (Peate, 2017).
factors lead to higher levels of alcohol abuse, suicide, and mental anguish in this community. This is supported by a report that two-thirds of Native American and Alaskan Natives victims believe their attackers were drinking or on drugs before the abuse (Futures Without Violence, n.d.). Tribal laws vary based on the offense’s location, the crime’s nature, the party involved, and whether the tribe resides in a PL–280 state. In 1953, state governments in Alaska, California, Minnesota, Nebraska, Oregon, and Wisconsin granted states PL-280 authority over crimes committed in Native American countries or against a Native American or Alaskan Native. In addition, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act of 2013 included a section to assist Native women by allowing tribal courts to prosecute non- Native American defendants accused of violence against Native women (Potera, 2014). These laws are essential in helping to protect native women, but additional support is required. Men who are abused or stalked often seek healthcare for complaints of asthma, high blood pressure, headaches, chronic pain, insomnia, and limitations in their activity levels. The psychological effects of abuse are difficult to describe, and men typically do not report these feelings to healthcare providers. All abused individuals are at risk for substance use disorders, and alcohol is often used to forget incidents of abuse. Men also suffer from anger, emotional hurt, shame, and fear and are more likely to suffer from PTSD and turn to drugs to cope (Coker et al., 2021; Goldberg-Looney et al., 2017). 4. Social norms and homophobic harassment can lead to isolation and social exclusion, with some even being viewed as criminals, sinners, or sick people, leading to human rights violations. 5. Safe and accessible resources are limited for the GSD population, which may lead to further violence or death. Healthcare Consideration: Healthcare providers must recognize that domestic violence can impact individuals from all walks of life, irrespective of their social status or geographical location. It is essential to approach each patient with a nonjudgmental and inclusive mindset, understanding that domestic violence does not discriminate based on external factors. By maintaining this awareness, healthcare providers can effectively assess and support all individuals who may be at risk or experiencing domestic violence, regardless of their background or circumstances.
Gender and sexually diverse individuals and domestic abuse A new, more encompassing term, gender and sexually diverse (GSD), is starting to be used in the current literature instead of lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT or LGBTQi+) to describe these populations.
Lorenzetti and colleagues (2017) studied the risk factors associated with domestic violence in this population. It yielded five interesting results: 1. Sexual stigma associated with same-sex relationships could lead to internalized stigma and self-contempt, ultimately leading to partner abuse. 2. Traditional roles engrained in our society make a person who is bisexual or transgender feel there is a mismatch against the norm, which can result in bullying or violence toward transgendered and bisexual individuals. 3. Many bisexual or transgendered individuals, because of social stigma and unacceptance, lack support from their family, friends, and community, which can lead to suicidal thoughts—even in school-aged children.
INTERVENTIONS FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Concerns and interventions with charting Documentation of clinical visits is primarily done via electronic charting. Electronic charting was developed to ease documentation and share vital health information. However, when domestic or sexual violence patients with children report abuse, most systems do not allow this abuse to be shared with the children’s electronic records unless it is manually entered. This can be a significant issue when assessing and monitoring children’s health.
Another concern is the confidentiality of records. Many electronic record systems are available to the patient online. This accessibility may be a risk for abuse in the domestic violence environment. For example, if a patient reports abuse while being seen by their healthcare provider, and later the abuser wants to review their partner’s medical record online, they could see that discussion. Eventually, this could lead to violence in the home for that particular patient.
Page 9
Book Code: MIL1224
EliteLearning.com/Massage-Therapy
Powered by FlippingBook