PRESS RELEASE

Statistics Institute releases first results on the Study of the Needs of the Deaf Community in Puerto Rico

84% of totally deaf people surveyed who needed public safety services and 75% of those who needed services in government agencies faced barriers

July 21, 2022: The executive director of the Puerto Rico Statistics Institute (Institute), Dr. Orville M. Disdier, presented the first results of the Study of the Needs of the Deaf Community in Puerto Rico, through an interactive digital report. This new product, called “Study of the Needs of the Deaf Community: Interactive Report”, presents the first results of the Population Survey that the Institute conducted, both to deaf and partially deaf people, and to the general public. In addition, the interactive report presents the results of focus group interviews with teachers of students with hearing difficulties. The platform presents, for both deaf and partially deaf people, data and statistics on socio-demographic aspects, on the difficulties presented when requesting services, both governmental and non-governmental, on the communication methods used by this community and on the difficulties in accessing information offered by various means of communication, among other findings.

“The data and statistics presented in this interactive report serve as an empirical basis to justify various initiatives and the development of new public policies that promote quality services and better integration of deaf people into the rest of society, while promoting equity and social justice,” said Dr. Disdier.

Some of the most relevant results of the Deaf Community Needs Study:

• 9% of all respondents indicated that they were completely deaf.
• 14% of all respondents indicated that they are partially deaf.
• 62% of the totally deaf people who participated in the survey were deaf at birth, while the remaining 38% became deaf sometime after their birth.
• 66% of the partially deaf who participated in the survey have a level of severe or profound deafness.
• 86% of the totally deaf people surveyed said they often feel discriminated against (41% very often and 45% sometimes). On the other hand, 68% of the partially deaf people surveyed said they often feel discriminated against (20% very often and 48% sometimes).
• 84% of the totally deaf people surveyed, who needed public safety services, faced barriers.
• 75% of the totally deaf people surveyed, who needed services from government agencies, faced barriers.
• On the other hand, 53% of the partially deaf people surveyed, who needed services from government agencies, faced barriers.
• Other places where the totally deaf people surveyed mentioned that they have faced difficulty receiving services, integrating or participating, are:
  • Hospitals (55%)
  • Medical offices (46%)
  • Restaurants (42%)
  • Banks or cooperatives (42%)
  • Place of employment (34%)
  • Cinema or theater (28%)
  • Supermarkets (24%)
  • Concerts or festivals (22%)
  • Gas stations (22%)
• The communication methods used by the totally deaf people surveyed are:
  • Lip reading (83%)
  • ASL signs (64%)
  • Writing (65%)
  • Verbal (59%)
  • Creole signs (56%)
  • Interpreter (45%)
  • Non-formal signs (26%)
• On the other hand, the communication methods most used by partially deaf people surveyed are verbal (87%), lip reading (59%) and written (43%).
• 51% of the totally deaf people surveyed reported using one of the following headphone devices:
  • Behind the ear or behind the ear (64%)
  • CROS hearing aid — BI-CROS (14%)
  • In the ear — Intra shell (11%)
  • Cochlear implant (8%)
  • Open ear — miniature size (3%)
• 58% of partially deaf people surveyed reported using one of the following headphone devices:
  • Behind the ear or behind the ear (53%)
  • CROS hearing aid — BI-CROS (26%)
  • In the channel — Intracanal (11%)
  • In the ear — Intra shell (5%)
  • Other (6%)
• 10% of all respondents indicated that they are hearing people (who are not deaf or partially deaf) but who live with a deaf person.
• 43% of the listeners surveyed, who live with a deaf person, have not taken sign language courses.
• On the other hand, 42% of all respondents indicated that they are hearing people (who are not deaf or partially deaf) but who know a deaf person.
• 25% of all respondents indicated that they are hearing people (who are not deaf or partially deaf) who do not live with a deaf person and who do not know a deaf person.
• In general terms, the educators who participated in the focus groups agreed that there are not many materials adapted for deaf students, so sometimes the teachers themselves have to modify the materials.

In the same way, the educators who participated in the focus groups agreed that in general, parents and/or guardians are not given the necessary support at the time the child is diagnosed. Dr. Disdier explained that the final sample of the survey consisted of 739 adults, 18 years of age or older, living in Puerto Rico, and it was accessible for more than sixty (60) days. A total of 21 educators were part of several focus groups, in which in-depth conversations were held about the needs of deaf students. In this regard, Dr. Disdier argued that “The data collected by educators of deaf students alert us that, like deaf adults, deaf children and adolescents also face challenges and needs, and that these challenges and needs are different and require actions adapted to that demographic sector.”

For his part, Manuel Mangual, Evaluation Specialist, who managed the study, explained that there are still some survey questions that are being processed and whose data will eventually be added to the interactive report. Likewise, in the coming weeks, additional focus group interviews will be conducted, whose results will also be included in the report, expanding and strengthening it. “Working on this project, for the benefit of deaf and partially deaf people, has been a lot of learning, enthusiasm and pride. The study participants gave us the confidence to be part of one voice when it came to their needs. During the next phases, we will continue to produce information aimed at promoting a more inclusive society,” emphasized Mangual.

The Study of the Needs of the Deaf Community: Interactive Report, resides on the website of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics and can be accessed at any time by interested parties at the following e-mail address: Outcomes and Needs Deaf Community.

For technical questions about this report, you can send an email to: preguntas@estadisticas.pr.

To learn more about the Institute of Statistics, you can access the website: www.estadisticas.pr.gov. On social media through Facebook accounts (@statistics.pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR), Instagram (@institutodeestadisticas) and LinkedIn (Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics).

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Extreme jealousy is the most common risk factor for lethality in cases of domestic violence in Puerto Rico

Based on the findings of the Department of Justice Evaluation study and analyzed by the Institute for Statistics

December 17, 2025; San Juan, Puerto Rico - The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute and the Puerto Rico Department of Justice presented the findings of the Danger Assessment analysis, a tool implemented by prosecutors in the criminal investigation process, to identify the levels of danger of femicide faced by victims of domestic violence in Puerto Rico

The study, which analyzed 2,149 cases between July and November 2024, provided relevant information that highlights the importance of continuing to strengthen prevention and protection strategies against domestic violence in Puerto Rico. Both this report and the previous pilot study agree in consistently pointing out the need to prioritize intervention in the most affected sectors, with the purpose of preventing new deaths and reducing the risk of fatality among victims. Among the data, the following stand out:

● Throughout Puerto Rico, the three most common risk factors for fatality identified were: Extreme jealousy manifested in a violent and constant way (49.8%), Having sons or daughters who are not the aggressor's (47.7%) and Having abandoned the relationship the previous year after living with him(39.0%).

● The injured parties have an average age of 36 years, with the group from 20 to 39 years old being the most represented (62.1% of cases). However, women up to the age of 83 were registered.

● 47.5% of domestic violence complaints (1,019 cases) resulted in charges being filed at the Puerto Rico level, a percentage that responds to multiple factors and that varies significantly between different judicial regions.

● One in four victims faced a level of danger from severe to extreme of being a victim of femicide.

o Women with severe or extreme dangerousness are almost 11 times more likely to have been used against them or threatened with a weapon, compared to those who are of varying or increasing danger.

o When evaluating the group of women with severe or extreme danger, it was found that the partner or former partner was jealous of them and showed it violently and constantly (83.5%). 76.6% fear that their partner or former partner is capable of killing them and that 72.8% of women felt that their partner or former partner controls most of their daily activities.

o The municipalities with the highest adjusted rates of victims, aged 15 or older and in severe or extreme danger, were Vieques, Florida and Culebra.

“Having reliable and up-to-date data is essential for the development of effective public policies. This study provides a solid basis for strengthening interagency coordination and focusing efforts on the prevention of lethal violence in Puerto Rico.” said Dr. Orville M. Disdier Flores, executive director of the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics.

“Through the daily work carried out by our prosecutors, the Department of Justice is collecting valuable data, which are not only essential for the development of security strategies within our functions, but must also be shared with the entities that provide services to victims and the entire security component, in order to strengthen prevention and improve the care they receive. This initiative reflects our commitment to remain proactive in protecting and supporting all victims of domestic violence,” added Justice Secretary Lourdes L. Gómez Torres.

For her part, Dr. Idania R. Rodríguez, Deputy Executive Director of the Institute of Statistics and lead author of the study, noted that “Beyond statistics, this report seeks to make visible the real danger faced by many women in Puerto Rico. Each finding represents an opportunity to act with greater urgency and design effective and equitable interventions. Prioritizing municipalities and regions with the highest risk is essential to reduce lethal violence and strengthen the safety and protection of women on the island.”

To access the full report you can visit: Findings from the Risk Assessment Sheet

For more information you can visit the website www.estadisticas.pr.gov or the social media accounts of Facebook (@estadisticas .pr), Twitter (@EstadisticasPR) and LinkedIn (Institute of Statistics of Puerto Rico).

About the Puerto Rico Institute of Statistics

The Puerto Rico Statistics Institute is an autonomous governmental entity responsible for coordinating the Government's statistical production service to ensure that the data collection and statistics systems, on which public policies are based, are complete, reliable and have quick and universal access.

About the Puerto Rico Department of Justice

The Department of Justice has the mission of ensuring faithful compliance with the Constitution and laws of the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and aspiring to the highest principles of equality and human dignity. It also represents the people of Puerto Rico in civil and criminal cases, and provides certainty to the legal trafficking of real estate on the island. It performs these functions with effectiveness, integrity, a sense of justice and the strongest commitment to public service. The Department of Justice is committed to doing justice to victims of violence and the current public policy is zero tolerance and repudiation of all acts of violence against women.

Statistics Institute Press Contacts:

Lourdesburgs/787-562-2932/ lburgos@upfrontpr.net

IDIA Martinez/787-603-3200/imartinez@upfrontpr.net

Department of Justice Press Contacts:

Astridmatos/787-590-7385/ astrid.matos@justicia.pr.gov

Kike O'Neill/787-394-9469/ kikeoneill.prensa@gmail.com

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Statistics Institute invites citizens to participate in the review of the Working Group Survey