Ethnic-specific prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women in New Zealand

Objective

This study presents age-standardised ethnic-specific prevalence rates of intimate partner violence against women in New Zealand, by physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence, psychological intimate partner violence, controlling behaviours and economic abuse.

Methods

Data are from 1,431 ever-partnered women in the representative and cross-sectional He Koiora Matapopore, the 2019 New Zealand Family Violence Study.

Results

High lifetime prevalence of intimate partner violence is present across all ethnic groups in NZ, with over half of all women reporting any intimate partner violence (55.8%). Substantial ethnic disparities exist in intimate partner violence rates, with Māori women reporting the highest prevalence of intimate partner violence (64.6%), followed by NZ European women (61.6%).

Conclusions

Intimate partner violence prevention and intervention services are needed at the population-level, and services must be culturally responsive and attuned to the needs of communities that bear the greatest burden.

Implications for Public Health

Ethnic differences in intimate partner violence prevalence likely contribute to health disparities at the population-level, reinforcing calls for prevention and necessitating healthcare systems to be culturally informed and mobilised to address intimate partner violence as a priority health issue.