Abstract
Human Trafficking (HT) persists in the US, despite multi-level measures designed to mitigate its societal costs. HT instruction for healthcare providers is growing, but there is a dearth of resources and training presenting obstacles for victims accessing suitable healthcare services. Voices of survivors are also scant in the literature, despite the fact that their recommendations would appear essential when designing best practices. This study aimed to methodically gather recommendations from sex trafficking (ST) survivors who sought medical care during their victimization. An exploratory concurrent mixed-methods design was used, and semi-structured interviews (N = 22) were conducted between March 2016 and March 2017, in San Diego, CA, and Philadelphia, PA. Data were analyzed through a coding system to identify meaningful analytical themes. Study participants were recruited through survivor-centered organizations, and their identification was kept anonymous and confidential. Findings included three main themes: (A) Red Flags; (B) supportive healthcare practices; and (C) resources for ST-patient study participants’ recommendations aimed to improve healthcare practice in response to their medical needs in a compassionate and caring manner, with trust building, rapport, and an opportunity to instill hope among ST-patients. Implementing Compassionate Care approaches when caring for ST-patients could positively impact patient–provider interactions, while creating opportunities for intervention.
Highlights
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was enacted in 2000 as one of the most significant federal laws in the 21st century
In terms of supportive practices that healthcare settings and providers need to explore and potentially adopt, this study points to important recommendations specific to attitudes related to the personal treatment of the sex trafficking (ST)-patient, creating a safe and comfortable environment, and practicing a type of care that adds to extant frameworks including trauma-informed and victim-centered care—a Compassionate Care
This study sought to understand the significance of the narratives and views of a cluster of ST survivors, including their recommendations for healthcare providers who are uniquely positioned to identify and intervene on their behalf while delivering medical care to them
Summary
The Trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) was enacted in 2000 as one of the most significant federal laws in the 21st century. As well as governmental and nongovernmental agencies, have fought against this crime by updating the initial law and creating subsequent laws at the state level [7]. These efforts have included educating the public and creating protocols to identify victims in a diversity of sectors, as well as evaluation of anti-trafficking efforts nationally and internationally [6,8,9]. This research focuses on sex trafficking (ST) survivors’ recommendations to healthcare providers regarding best practices based on their experiences and interactions with a range of diverse healthcare settings and providers
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