142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

Annual Meeting Recordings are now available for purchase

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Clinic-based videos for domestic violence and human trafficking screening: What messages could persuade immigrant women to self-reveal?

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Tuesday, November 18, 2014 : 9:30 AM - 9:50 AM

Mellissa H. Withers, PhD, MHS , Institute for Global Health, USC School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA
Paula Tavrow, PhD , Department of Community Health Sciences, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA
Debra Suh , Center for Pacific Asian Families, Los Angeles, CA
Ima Matul , Coalition to Abolish Slavery and Trafficking, Los Angeles, CA
INTRODUCTION: Immigrant women experiencing domestic violence (DV) or human trafficking (HT) may be reluctant, unable, or uninformed about how to access help. PSA-type videos in exam rooms of healthcare clinics can help inform them privately about services available and may convince them to disclose now or in the future. However, video messages must be culturally-appropriate and persuasive. METHODS: We conducted 4 focus groups and 10 interviews with DV and HT survivors, therapists and others working with survivors to create scripts for three-minute screening videos in multiple languages. Scripts were based on actual survivors’ stories.  RESULTS: Victims need to be able to relate to both the message and the “survivor” who appears in the video. “Survivors” should be similar to the victim in terms of age and ethnicity.  Various types of violence--physical, sexual, emotional, financial--should be described. Videos should stress that victims who disclose won’t be arrested, deported or forced to leave their abusers unless they choose.  The content should be upbeat, highlighting the positive outcomes of escaping violence.  Messages like “you’re worth it” or “you deserve happiness” were most powerful. For Latinas, focusing on how children are affected by DV was persuasive.  For Asians, addressing shame and embarrassment were most important. Victims must also be convinced that providers are trustworthy, want to help and will maintain confidentiality. DISCUSSION: To assist immigrant populations to disclose DV or HT to a health provider, messages need to be culturally-relevant, explain various types of violence, allay fears and show a positive outcome.

Learning Areas:

Administer health education strategies, interventions and programs
Advocacy for health and health education
Diversity and culture
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Identify the messages that will be most persuasive to convince women experiencing domestic violence or human trafficking to disclose Describe the challenges of identifying victims of domestic violence or human trafficking within the health care system

Keyword(s): Screening Instruments, Domestic Violence

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am co-PI on this study. I collected the data and performed the analysis. I also wrote the abstract.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.