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Sex Trafficking Victims at Their Junction with the Healthcare Setting-A Mixed-Methods Inquiry
Arduizur Carli Richie-Zavaleta1, Augusta Villanueva1, Ana Martinez-Donate1
1Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Journal of Human Trafficking
|March 20, 2020
Summary
Most U.S. sex trafficking survivors seeking healthcare are not identified. Shame and lack of provider inquiry are key barriers, highlighting the need for trauma-informed care in healthcare settings to improve victim identification.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Sociology
- Healthcare Disparities
Background:
- U.S.-born citizens are disproportionately victims of sex trafficking.
- Many victims interact with healthcare providers but remain unidentified.
- Healthcare providers often lack skills to identify and assist trafficking victims.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify healthcare settings frequented by sex trafficking survivors.
- To understand reasons survivors seek medical care.
- To determine barriers to disclosing victimization to healthcare providers.
Main Methods:
- Exploratory concurrent mixed-methods study.
- Interviews conducted with 21 sex trafficking survivors in San Diego, CA, and Philadelphia, PA (2016-2017).
Main Results:
- Emergency departments (76.2%) and community clinics (71.4%) were most visited.
- Survivors primarily sought care for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (81%).
- Barriers to disclosure included shame (84%) and lack of provider inquiry (76.9%).
Conclusions:
- Healthcare settings offer opportunities for victim identification.
- Trauma-informed, victim-centered interventions are essential for effective identification and support.
- Provider training, privacy, and compassionate care are crucial components for improving victim identification.