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This is a monthly series in research and advocacy news summaries created by the PATH residents and medical students. Newsletters will feature brief breakdowns on recent scholarly publications and policy changes as well as highlighting PATH member efforts and upcoming events.
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October's Literature Feature is from:
Human Trafficking: A Guide to Identification and Approach for the Emergency Physician
By Shandro, J. Chisolm-Straker, M, et al.
Background highlights:
- Human trafficking is a 150$ billion-a year criminal industry with half of its victims coming from industrialized nations
- Globally Human Trafficking is estimated to include about 20.9 million victims of forced labor, 4.5 million of which are victims of forced sexual exploitation spanning at least 124 countries.
- Background includes an overview of policy evolution including the removal of the requirement for physical transportation to be defined as a victim of trafficking.
- Delves into some of the domestic features of human trafficking and the intimate methods of control
Frontline Provider Role:
This section of the article outlines the pivotal role of health care providers in general, but particularly of ER providers as gateway agents of identification and assistance, a role which is at odds with the overall lack of available training and screening tools. (p 2-3)
- 28-88% of victims of human trafficking report a visit to a medical provider during exploitation.
- 2/3's reported having interfaced with ED department
-notably victims are often reluctant to report, and providers are often not aware of signs of trafficking (4.9% or ER clinicians reported being confident in their ability to recognize a victim)
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