Raising awareness of human trafficking in key professional fields via a multidisciplinary educational approach

Bibliographic Data

ID6150933
AuthorsA W Awerbuch (University of Miami), Naiomi Gunaratne (0000-0001-6977-4395, University of Chicago), Juhi Jain (0000-0002-3303-5301, Emory University), Panagiota Caralis (0000-0002-7207-5760, University of Miami)
Year2020
Volume13
Issue2
Pages159-169
Publication date2020-03-18
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Human Rights in Healthcare (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2056-4902 • E-ISSN: 2056-4910
PublisherEmerald Publishing Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1108/ijhrh-07-2019-0053
OpenAlexW3010876245
LanguageEN
Citations received2
References cited9

Purpose Human trafficking (HT) for sex and labor services is among the fastest growing criminal enterprises, causing significant physical and psychological morbidity to victims. Although many survivors encounter medical, legal and social work professionals during their captivity, lack of awareness of HT in these fields results in under-recognition of victims. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a multidisciplinary educational conference on raising awareness of HT in these fields. Design/methodology/approach A single-day educational conference on HT was hosted in Miami, Florida. Participants were recruited from medical, law enforcement, social work and political fields. The research team issued a ten-item HT survey at the start and end of the conference. Results were analyzed for improvement in survey score using an exact Wilcoxon sign rank test. The results were analyzed both as a single cohort and stratified by profession. Findings For all participants, there was a significant improvement in post-survey score (0.355, p < 0.05). When stratified by profession, significant improvement was noted in the legal subgroup (0.561, p < 0.05). No significant changes were noted for the other individual professional cohorts, although all subgroups trended toward improvement. Research limitations/implications A multi-disciplinary educational conference may be effective in raising awareness of HT. Further research is needed to determine the effect of increased awareness on actual outcomes for trafficking survivors. Originality/value This study represents unique, original research which provides valuable data as to the effectiveness of educational conferences on raising awareness of HT for professionals with the best opportunity to make meaningful interventions

Creativity · Denial · Law enforcement · Medical education · Multidisciplinary approach · Originality · Political science · Gender, Feminism, and Media · HIV, Drug Use, Sexual Risk · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Social Psychology