Systematic Review of Human Trafficking Educational Interventions for Health Care Providers

Abstract

Human trafficking is a global population health threat. Trafficking minors threatens the safety and well-being of youth. Limited studies measure health care providers’ awareness and attitudes toward trafficking. This systematic review synthesized retrospective and current knowledge and identified gaps in educational interventions aimed at increasing providers’ awareness and attitudes toward trafficking. A systematic search of four databases identified peer-reviewed published papers between January 1, 2000 and September 1, 2018. The Cochrane Collaboration’s Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews was followed. Study quality was assessed using the Downs and Black checklist. The Psychometric Grading Framework was used to assess the validity of instruments. Findings across studies ( N = 7) reveal providers (mostly social workers and physicians) have low awareness of trafficking and can have negative attitudes toward victims. Multiphase educational approaches and use of content experts, including survivors, in developing interventions enhanced sustainability of outcomes. Targeting multidisciplinary health care teams, including nurses, enhanced interventions.

The COVID-19 pandemic: Theoretical and practical perspectives on children, women and sex trafficking

“…It also serves as a fundamental violation of the civic and civil rights of the minors. Fraley et al (2020) conclude that females are targeted via fraud, coercion, places in which children congregate as well as through friends who are the recruiters. Dell et al (2019), in their systematic review, postulate that human trafficking survivors' intervention and impactful financial assistance is direly missing.…”

“…There are a few works of literature on COVID-19 (del Rio & Malani, 2020;Li et al, 2020;Remuzzi & Remuzzi, 2020;van Staden, 2020). A number of scholarly writings exist on the current human trafficking perspectives of girls and women (Dell et al, 2019;Fraley et al, 2020;Latzman et al, 2019;Usman, 2014). These reviews point out COVID-19 and human trafficking as two critical global menaces.…”

Educating paediatric health‐care providers about human trafficking

“…Many educational curricula lack published outcomes data that assess immediate and sustained changes in HCP knowledge, attitudes and practices related to human trafficking. Of identified evaluation studies, many have methodological issues 32 . However, some studies demonstrated success in raising awareness and changing negative attitudes towards trafficked persons, although these changes were only assessed immediately post‐training 32 .…”

“…Of identified evaluation studies, many have methodological issues. 32 However, some studies demonstrated success in raising awareness and changing negative attitudes towards trafficked persons, although these changes were only assessed immediately post-training. 32 Only one study measured provider behaviour change post-educational intervention and the authors found no change in clinical practice, as measured by appropriate referrals, 3 months after the intervention.…”

“…32 However, some studies demonstrated success in raising awareness and changing negative attitudes towards trafficked persons, although these changes were only assessed immediately post-training. 32 Only one study measured provider behaviour change post-educational intervention and the authors found no change in clinical practice, as measured by appropriate referrals, 3 months after the intervention. 33 Additionally, there are no known assessments of curricula addressing labour trafficking, despite evidence that it is underrecognized and underreported.…”