Intimate partner violence in American Indian and/or Alaska Native communities: a social ecological framework of determinants and interventions

Abstract

This essay synthesizes the research on intimate partner violence (IPV) in American Indian and/or Alaska Native communities using a social ecological framework. The review of literature demonstrates that American Indian and/or Alaska Native women are at an elevated risk for IPV compared to non-American Indian women and thus this essay describes multi-level interventions that are culturally appropriate for American Indian and/or Alaska Native communities. The interventions address a variety of determinants including gender, age, socioeconomic status, alcohol, European colonization, and infrastructure.