Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
Volume 27, Issue 3, 2016, Pages 1220-1233

Health care and human trafficking: We are seeing the unseen (Article)

Chisolm-Straker M.* , Baldwin S. , Gaïgbé-Togbé B. , Ndukwe N. , Johnson P.N. , Richardson L.D.
  • a Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, United States
  • b Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, United States
  • c Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, United States, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Mount Sinai Medical Center, United States
  • d Albert Einstein College of Medicine of Yeshiva University, United States, Department of Emergency Medicine, Montefiore Hospital, United States
  • e New York University School of Medicine, Department of Emergency Medicine, Division of Research, United States
  • f Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Emergency Medicine at Mount Sinai Brooklyn, United States, Department of Emergency Medicine, Mount Sinai Medical Center, United States

Abstract

Objectives. This study aimed to build the evidence base around human trafficking (HT) and health in the U.S. by employing a quantitative approach to exploring the notion that health care providers encounter this population. Furthermore, this study sought to describe the health care settings most frequented by victims of human trafficking. Methods. This was an anonymous, retrospective study of survivors of U.S.-based human trafficking. Results. One hundred and seventy-three participants who endured U.S.-based human trafficking were surveyed. The majority (68%, n=117) of participants were seen by a health care provider while being trafficked. Respondents most frequently reported visiting emergency/urgent care practitioners (56%), followed by primary care providers, dentists, and obstetricians/gynecologists (OB/GYNs). Conclusions. While health care providers are serving this patient population, they do not consistently identify them as victims of human trafficking. © Meharry Medical College.

Author Keywords

Human trafficking emergency medicine Vulnerable Slavery

Index Keywords

Health Personnel slavery emergency medicine primary medical care health care personnel quantitative study human survivor middle aged statistics and numerical data gynecologist obstetrician United States Humans male female victim human trafficking Retrospective Studies major clinical study adult retrospective study Delivery of Health Care dentist health care delivery
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-84981303210&doi=10.1353%2fhpu.2016.0131&partnerID=40&md5=450e78e9010b42ca8e660fc4dd9302aa
DOI: 10.1353/hpu.2016.0131
ISSN: 10492089
Cited by: 32
Original Language: English