Context
Human trafficking is an increasingly well-recognized human rights violation that is
estimated to involve more than 2 million victims worldwide each year. The health consequences
of this issue bring victims into contact with health systems and healthcare providers,
thus providing the potential for identification and intervention. A robust healthcare
response, however, requires a healthcare workforce that is aware of the health impact
of this issue; educated about how to identify and treat affected individuals in a
compassionate, culturally aware, and trauma-informed manner; and trained about how
to collaborate efficiently with law enforcement, case management, and advocacy partners.
This article describes existing educational offerings about human trafficking designed
for a healthcare audience and makes recommendations for further curriculum development.
Evidence acquisition
A keyword search and structured analysis of peer-reviewed and gray literature, conducted
in 2011 and 2012, yielded 27 items that provide basic guidance to health professionals
on human trafficking.
Evidence synthesis
The 27 resources differed substantially in format, length, scope, and intended audience.
Topic areas covered by these resources included trafficking definitions and scope,
health consequences, victim identification, appropriate treatment, referral to services,
legal issues, and security. None of the educational resources has been rigorously
evaluated.
Conclusions
There is a clear need to develop, implement, and evaluate high-quality education and
training programs that focus on human trafficking for healthcare providers.
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© 2013 American Journal of Preventive Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
