Study paints grim picture of sexual violence in Hawai‘i  

A study on the prevalence of sexual violence, and in particular rape, in Hawai‘i  by Charlene K. Baker, PhD, for the Hawai‘i  State Department of Health release on July 14 shows approximately 14.5 percent of adult women have at some point in their lifetime been subjected to a completed forcible rape. In addition, about 10 percent of Hawai‘i  high school students say they have been physically forced to have sexual intercourse when they did not want to. The national average is 7.5 percent.

The report is an assessment conducted last year relating to the development of a comprehensive sexual violence prevention plan for the state. “We are now on to Phase II, where the goal is to conduct focus groups,” Baker said. “We hope to complete this next Phase by the end of the year at which time all of this information from Phase I and II will be used to help develop the plan.”

The DOH Maternal and Child Health Branch received a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop the comprehensive plan. A needs assessment was the first step and the study came up with these recommendations:

• Increase the capacity of individuals and communities to prevent sexual violence.
• Create a system for coordinating sexual violence prevention efforts.
• Increase the development and use of culturally sensitive messages.
• Use delivery methods that are appropriate to the community.
• Promote prevention efforts at all levels of the ecological model.
• Support evaluation of prevention efforts to promote the use of evidence-based models of prevention.