The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #49358

Melanie G. Orhant, Consultant on Trafficking in Persons for Forced Labor, 000, Washington, DC 00000, 000-000-0000, donna.wright@apha.org

Although trafficking has generally been examined by public health professionals through the rubrics of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), including HIV/AIDs and forced prostitution, many within the public health field have begun to work with a wider variety of victims of trafficking. Trafficked persons suffer from a multitude of health problems, including: STIs and HIV/AIDs from working in the sex industry; infertility from chronic, untreated STIs or botched or unprofessional abortions; chronic back problems from laboring in construction or sweatshops; weak eyes from sweatshop conditions; physical abuse from general victimization as a trafficked person or from being beaten to “look” more authentic when begging; and psychological trauma from daily mental abuse inflicted upon trafficking victims, to mention but a few. These are all issues that public health organizations can specifically address to assist trafficked persons. This paper discusses the issue of trafficking generally and difficulties that organizations face when accessing trafficked persons, reviews a number of solutions, and outlines what public health workers can do in their daily work to assist trafficked persons.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Recognize and identify people who have been trafficked for forced labor;
• Describe the public health issues as the related to trafficked persons; and
• Have acquired strategies to assisting people who have been trafficked for forced labor.

Keywords: Sex Workers, Immigrants

Related Web page: www.stop-traffic.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.