Human Trafficking and Health: A Survey of Male and Female Survivors in England

TY - JOUR

T1 - Human Trafficking and Health: A Survey of Male and Female Survivors in England

AU - Oram, Sian

AU - Abas, Melanie

AU - Bick, Debra Elizabeth

AU - Boyle, Adrian

AU - French, Rebecca

AU - Jakobowitz, Sharon

AU - Khondoker, MD Mizanur Rahman

AU - Stanley, Nicky

AU - Trevillion, Kylee

AU - Howard, Louise Michele

AU - Zimmerman, Cathy

PY - 2016/4/14

Y1 - 2016/4/14

N2 - Objectives. To investigate physical and mental health and experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in a high-income country. Methods. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 150 men and women in England who were in contact with posttrafficking support services. Interviews took place over 18 months, from June 2013 to December 2014. Results. Participants had been trafficked for sexual exploitation (29%), domestic servitude (29.3%), and labor exploitation (40.4%). Sixty-six percent of women reported forced sex during trafficking, including 95% of those trafficked for sexual exploitation and 54% of those trafficked for domestic servitude. Twenty-one percent of men and 24% of women reported ongoing injuries, and 8% of men and 23% of women reported diagnosed sexually transmitted infections. Finally, 78% of women and 40% of men reported high levels of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Conclusions. Psychological interventions to support the recovery of this highly vulnerable population are urgently needed

AB - Objectives. To investigate physical and mental health and experiences of violence among male and female trafficking survivors in a high-income country. Methods. Our data were derived from a cross-sectional survey of 150 men and women in England who were in contact with posttrafficking support services. Interviews took place over 18 months, from June 2013 to December 2014. Results. Participants had been trafficked for sexual exploitation (29%), domestic servitude (29.3%), and labor exploitation (40.4%). Sixty-six percent of women reported forced sex during trafficking, including 95% of those trafficked for sexual exploitation and 54% of those trafficked for domestic servitude. Twenty-one percent of men and 24% of women reported ongoing injuries, and 8% of men and 23% of women reported diagnosed sexually transmitted infections. Finally, 78% of women and 40% of men reported high levels of depression, anxiety, or posttraumatic stress disorder symptoms. Conclusions. Psychological interventions to support the recovery of this highly vulnerable population are urgently needed

U2 - 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303095

DO - 10.2105/AJPH.2016.303095

M3 - Article

C2 - 27077341

SN - 0090-0036

VL - 106

SP - 1073

EP - 1078

JO - American Journal of Public Health

JF - American Journal of Public Health

IS - 6

ER -