A national survey on violence and discrimination among people with disabilities

Abstract

BackgroundThe aim of the study was to quantify levels of violence and discrimination among people with disabilities and analyze the effects of gender and the type and degree of disability.MethodsThe study analyzed data on self-reported violence and discrimination from a Danish national survey of 18,019 citizens, of whom 4519 reported a physical disability and 1398 reported a mental disability.ResultsIndividuals with disabilities reported significantly higher levels of violence than those without. Specifically, individuals reporting a mental disability reported higher levels of violence and discrimination. Significant gender differences were found with regard to type of violence: while men with disabilities were more likely to report physical violence, women with disabilities were more likely to report major sexual violence, humiliation and discrimination. Neither severity nor visibility of disability was found to be a significant factor for risk of violence.ConclusionsThis large-scale study lends support to existing research showing that people with disabilities are at greater risk of violence than people without disabilities. Further, the study found that people with mental disabilities were significantly more likely to report all types of violence and discrimination than those with physical disabilities. The findings also show that gender is significant in explaining the type of violence experienced and the experience of discrimination.

Domestic violence victims in a hospital setting: prevalence, health impact and patients’ preferences – results from a cross-sectional study

“…We identified specific risk factors for DV in our sample: Patients with disabilities were significantly more at risk of becoming victims of DV, which is also in line with current epidemiological research (Dammeyer & Chapman, 2018). Nearly half of patients reporting DV were parents.…”

Qualitative study exploring the barriers to menstrual hygiene management faced by adolescents and young people with a disability, and their carers in the Kavrepalanchok district, Nepal

“…Menstrual taboos, including restrictions to movements, are widely followed by people with and without disabilities in Nepal (12)(13)(14)61). However, due to vulnerability to violence, people with disabilities may be more susceptible to abuse when sleeping in menstrual huts (62)(63)(64). Our study also highlights the fear expressed by people with disabilities that they would be 'doubly cursed' if they did not adhere to the menstrual restrictions.…”

Voldsutsatte med funksjonsnedsettelser – individuelle ogstrukturelle barrierer mot å søke hjelp

“…Vold er et stort folkehelseproblem, og forekomststudier viser at personer med funksjonsnedsettelser gjennomgående er mer utsatt for vold sammenlignet med personer uten slike utfordringer. Det er da snakk om alle typer vold fra både fremmede og familie, og som rammer både menn og kvinner, barn som voksne (Dammeyer & Chapman, 2018;Gundersen, Farstad & Solberg, 2011;Hughes et al, 2012;Krnjacki, Emerson, Llewellyn & Kavanagh, 2016;Olofsson, Lindqvist & Danielsson, 2015). Det å avdekke vold mot funksjonshemmede og gi et godt hjelpetilbud synes imidlertid å innebaere noen saerlige utfordringer.…”

“…13 prosent hadde opplevd seksuell vold fra partner mot 4 prosent i den generelle kvinnebefolkningen (Schablon et al, 2012). I likhet med funn fra en dansk studie (Dammeyer & Chapman, 2018) fant de at kvinner med store og hemmende syns-og hørselsnedsettelser synes å ha saerlig økt risiko for å utsettes for psykisk, fysisk og seksualisert vold. Andre studier som har undersøkt vold mot kvinner, finner at det å vaere avhengig av hjelpemidler og assistanse i det daglige øker risikoen for å bli utsatt for ulike typer av vold fra partner og andre naerpersoner (Hughes et al, 2012;Olsvik 2010;Plummer & Findley, 2012).…”