Richie-Zavaleta Arduizur Carli, Villanueva Augusta, Martinez-Donate Ana, Turchi Renee M, Ataiants Janna, Rhodes Shea M
Department of Community Health and Prevention, Drexel University Dornsife School of Public Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Institute to Address Commercial Sexual Exploitation, Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, Villanova, PA, USA.
J Hum Traffick. 2020;6(1):1-29. doi: 10.1080/23322705.2018.1501257. Epub 2019 Jun 2.
U.S.-born citizens are victims of human trafficking typically exploited through sex trafficking. At least some of them interact with healthcare providers during their trafficking experience; yet a majority goes unidentified. Although protocols and training guides exist, healthcare providers often do not have the necessary skills to identify and assist victims of sex trafficking. Understanding where victims seek care and barriers for disclosure are critical components for intervention. Thus, this study interviewed survivors of sex trafficking to ascertain: a) healthcare settings visited during trafficking, b) reasons for seeking care, and c) barriers to disclosing victimization. An exploratory concurrent mixed-methods approach was utilized. Data were collected between 2016-2017 in San Diego, CA and Philadelphia, PA (N = 21). Key findings: 1) Among healthcare settings, emergency departments (76.2%) and community clinics (71.4%) were the most frequently visited; 2) medical care was sought mainly for treatment of STIs (81%); and 3) main barriers inhibiting disclosure of victimization included feeling ashamed (84%) and a lack of inquiry into the trafficking status from healthcare providers (76.9%). Healthcare settings provide an opportunity to identify victims of sex trafficking, but interventions that are trauma-informed and victim-centered are essential. These may include training providers, ensuring privacy, and a compassionate-care approach.
在美国出生的公民是人口贩运的受害者，通常会遭受性交易剥削。他们中至少有些人在被贩运期间会与医疗服务提供者接触；然而，大多数人身份未得到确认。尽管存在相关协议和培训指南，但医疗服务提供者往往缺乏识别和协助性交易受害者的必要技能。了解受害者寻求医疗护理的地点以及披露遭遇的障碍是干预的关键要素。因此，本研究对性交易幸存者进行了访谈，以确定：a）被贩运期间前往的医疗场所，b）寻求医疗护理的原因，以及c）披露受害情况的障碍。采用了探索性并发混合方法。2016年至2017年期间在加利福尼亚州圣地亚哥和宾夕法尼亚州费城收集了数据（N = 21）。主要发现：1）在医疗场所中，急诊科（76.2%）和社区诊所（71.4%）是最常前往的；2）寻求医疗护理主要是为了治疗性传播感染（81%）；3）阻碍披露受害情况的主要障碍包括感到羞耻（84%）以及医疗服务提供者未询问贩运状况（76.9%）。医疗场所提供了识别性交易受害者的机会，但采用创伤知情且以受害者为中心的干预措施至关重要。这些措施可能包括培训提供者、确保隐私以及采取富有同情心的护理方法。
