Prevalence and risk of violence and the mental, physical and sexual health problems associated with human trafficking: an updated systematic review

Ottisova, Livia; Hemmings, Stacey; Howard, Louise M.; Zimmerman, Cathy; Oram, Siân

doi:10.1017/s2045796016000135

Cited by 268 publications

(232 citation statements)

References 42 publications

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“…In an updated review of violence and health consequences, in which researchers covered the period from 2011 to 2015, only 31 additional studies were identified. 51 Of these, only 12 included forms of trafficking beyond sexual exploitation, and none of the latter targeted the child population. In many studies on human trafficking, researchers have included aggregate results for adults and children, 68 -70 boys and girls, 30 or individuals from multiple countries of origin.…”

Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Human Trafficking and Child Victimization

Greenbaum

Bodrick²,

Neglect³

2017

Pediatrics

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COMMITTEE ON CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT, SECTION ON INTERNATIONAL CHILD HEALTHTrafficking of children for labor and sexual exploitation violates basic human rights and constitutes a major global public health problem. Pediatricians and other health care professionals may encounter victims who present with infections, injuries, posttraumatic stress disorder, suicidality, or a variety of other physical or behavioral health conditions. Preventing child trafficking, recognizing victimization, and intervening appropriately require a public health approach that incorporates rigorous research on the risk factors, health impact, and effective treatment options for child exploitation as well as implementation and evaluation of primary prevention programs. Health care professionals need training to recognize possible signs of exploitation and to intervene appropriately. They need to adopt a multidisciplinary, outward-focused approach to service provision, working with nonmedical professionals in the community to assist victims. Pediatricians also need to advocate for legislation and policies that promote child rights and victim services as well as those that address the social determinants of health, which influence the vulnerability to human trafficking. This policy statement outlines major issues regarding public policy, medical education, research, and collaboration in the area of child labor and sex trafficking and provides recommendations for future work. abstractA critical role of the pediatric health care professional is to advocate for the health and well-being of children and adolescents. Central to this role is the conviction that health and well-being depend on a guarantee of fundamental human rights. Victims* of trafficking routinely are deprived of *"Victim" is used here in its objective, legal sense as indicating a person who has been harmed as a result of some event or action or who has suffered because of someone else's actions. It does not refer to how the person may feel or perceive himself or herself as a result of the event(s) and is not intended to be used to label that person. 91

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Section: Researchmentioning

confidence: 99%

Global Human Trafficking and Child Victimization

Greenbaum

Bodrick²,

Neglect³

2017

Pediatrics

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“…In 2016, an estimated 40.3 million individuals were victims of modern slavery, including forced labour exploitation, forced sexual exploitation or forced marriage (International Labour Organization, ). Human trafficking has been associated with physical and psychological abuse, rape and deprivation of liberty and material needs (Ottisova, Hemmings, Howard, Zimmerman, & Oram, ). Studies conducted with survivors in contact with post‐trafficking support services have documented a range of adverse physical (Kiss et al, ; Oram et al, ; Oram, Ostrovschi, et al, ; Ottisova et al, ; Turner‐Moss, Zimmerman, Howard, & Oram, ; Zimmerman et al, ), mental (Abas et al, ; Domoney, Howard, Abas, Broadbent, & Oram, ; Oram, Khondoker, Abas, Broadbent, & Howard, ), and sexual and reproductive health problems (Oram, Stöckl, Busza, Howard, & Zimmerman, ; Williams et al, ; Zimmerman et al, ), including high levels of depression and post‐traumatic stress disorder; non‐specific symptoms such as headache, fatigue and back pain; and sexually transmitted infections, including HIV (Zimmerman, Hossain, & Watts, ).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Responding to the health needs of trafficked people: A qualitative study of professionals in England and Scotland

Williamson

Borschmann

Zimmerman

et al. 2019

Health Soc Care Community

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Trafficked people require timely and ongoing access to healthcare services. Yet, many encounter difficulties accessing and utilising healthcare services, both while in situations of exploitation and after their escape. This research investigated barriers that hinder healthcare providers from identifying, providing care and making necessary referrals for trafficked people in the United Kingdom (UK). Semi‐structured, face‐to‐face interviews were conducted with healthcare (n = 23) and non‐health (n = 27) professionals with relevant policy or practical experience related to human trafficking in the UK. Topic guides covered identifying, referring and providing care to trafficked people. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes emerged: trafficked persons’ entitlements to healthcare, availability of healthcare resources, providers’ knowledge about trafficking, and the particular needs of trafficked individuals. Providers explained that policies limiting entitlements to healthcare created significant obstacles to care, as did the inadequate resourcing of interpreter services, trafficking support services, and specialist mental health services. Few healthcare professionals reported having received training on responses to trafficked people and most were unaware of support options and referral routes. Healthcare professionals will be better equipped to serve trafficked individuals if they are provided training to identify and respond to human trafficking, guidance on referral and support options and entitlements to care. Simultaneously, improving trafficked people's healthcare access and use will also require government interventions to ensure they are not unjustifiably denied healthcare.

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“…While there is a growing body of literature on the health of female trafficking survivors [1], there is currently little to no evidence on the health needs of trafficked men and boys. To date, few studies have measured violence, occupational risks and injuries experienced by male trafficking survivors, despite the substantial likelihood of injury and enduring health problems in work sectors into which men and boys are commonly trafficked [2,3].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Labour Trafficking among Men and Boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Exploitation, Violence, Occupational Health Risks and Injuries

et al. 2016

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BackgroundMen comprise nearly two-thirds of trafficked and forced labourers in common low-skilled labour sectors including fishing, agriculture and factory work. Yet, most evidence on human trafficking has focused on women and girls trafficked for sex work, with scant research on trafficked men and boys.MethodsWe analyse survey data from the largest systematic consecutive sample of trafficked people collected to date to describe the prevalence of violence, occupational health risks and injuries and associated factors. Participants were labour-trafficked men and boys using post-trafficking support services in Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.FindingsData are presented on 446 males aged 10–58. Men and boys were mainly trafficked for fishing (61.7%), manufacturing (19.1%) and begging (5.2%). Fishermen worked extensive hours (mean 18.8 hours/day, SD 5.9) and factory workers worked on average 11.9 hours/day (SD 2.9). 35.5% of male survivors had been injured while trafficked; 29.4% received no personal protective equipment (e.g. gloves). The most commonly reported injuries among all males were deep cuts (61.8%) and skin injuries (36.7%), injuries for which fewer than one-quarter reported receiving medical care. Six fishermen lost body parts, none of whom received medical care. Most males (80.5%) had no or very few rest breaks. One-third (37.8%) experienced severe violence. Work-related injuries were associated with severe violence (AOR 3.44, CI:1.63–7.26), being in the fishing sector, (AOR 4.12, CI:2.39–7.09) and threats (AOR 2.77, CI:1.62–4.75). Experiencing any violence was associated with threats (AOR 26.86, CI:14.0–51.23), being in the fishing sector (AOR 18.53, CI:8.74–39.28) and fluency in language of destination country (AOR 0.39, CI:0.20–0.75).ConclusionThis study highlights the abuse and extreme occupational hazards suffered by trafficked men and boys. Occupational health and safety interventions are urgently needed to protect male migrant labourers working in high-risk sectors, particularly fishing.

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Prevalence and risk of violence and the mental, physical and sexual health problems associated with human trafficking: an updated systematic review

Cited by 268 publications

References 42 publications

Global Human Trafficking and Child Victimization

Global Human Trafficking and Child Victimization

Responding to the health needs of trafficked people: A qualitative study of professionals in England and Scotland

Labour Trafficking among Men and Boys in the Greater Mekong Subregion: Exploitation, Violence, Occupational Health Risks and Injuries

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