Recognizing and Responding to Human Trafficking in Texas, 2nd Edition: Summary 3
Health Impact of Human Trafficking Victims often suffer from physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, leading to chronic health issues, mental health disorders, and substance use disorders. Poor living conditions further exacerbate these health problems. LEARNING TIP!
Barriers to acquiring accurate data include victims avoiding the criminal justice system due to fears of reprisal, deportation, or incarceration; the failure of healthcare workers or emergency responders to ask about human trafficking or to probe causes of apparent violence; and a lack of coordination and data integration between the various levels of governmental agencies (local, state, federal) and other organizations (e.g., nonprofits, hospitals) that may have data on human trafficking. These barriers and the limitations of existing data suggest that the true scope of human trafficking is larger than can be reliably estimated at any given time. TYPES OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING Human trafficking includes sex, labor, and organ trafficking. Victims can be found in both legitimate and illegitimate labor industries. The difference between sex trafficking and consensual sex work is often misinterpreted. All instances of commercial sex involving minors under the age of 18 are cases of human trafficking. Vulnerability Factors Factors increasing the risk of becoming a trafficking victim include: • Children in welfare/juvenile justice systems • Unhoused youth • Migrant laborers • Patients with limited English abilities or disabilities • Individuals with a history of abuse Victim–Trafficker Dynamics Traffickers use various tactics to control and intimidate victims, such as violence, threats, withholding necessities, social isolation, economic coercion, and confiscation of identification documents.
Many trafficking victims suffer serious health issues, which may include reproductive health problems, symptoms of post- traumatic stress disorder, and signs of physical abuse. ROLE OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS
Healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to identify and support trafficking victims. They should provide patient-centered care, empower victims, and respect their autonomy. A trauma-informed approach is crucial. The healthcare environment is ideal for identifying and intervening on behalf of a trafficking victim. Red flags may be seen in a victim’s companion/ guest and include behaviors such as refusal to leave when trying to conduct one-on-one patient interviews, insistence on speaking/translating for the patient, controlling/interrupting the flow of care, having the patient’s documents in their possession, and an employer demanding access to medical information. Traffickers may employ strategies such as pretending to be the victim’s partner, family member, or close friend. Another potentially obvious red flag is a trafficker accompanying multiple victims to the same healthcare facility. Some traffickers may visit a certain healthcare facility so frequently that they try to build rapport with providers in order to deceive these of their “goodness.”
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