Download Trafficking WHO part 2

Health consequences
Short and long term
Physical and
Psychological trauma
Health consequences
Individuals
Accessible and
non-discriminatory
health care
Physical,
psychological
and
sexual abuse
Health Sector
“I feel like they’ve
taken my smile
and I can never
have it back.”
Lithuanian woman trafficked
to London
Main health issues
• Violence prior and during trafficking:
story of abuse prior to being trafficked
was prevalent
• Physical health symptoms: headaches,
fatigue, weight loss, neurological,
gastrointestinal, cardiovascular symptoms,
back pain, etc.
Stolen Smiles, The LSHTM, 2006 Daphne
Main health issues
• Sexual and reproductive health
symptoms: pelvic pain, vaginal
discharge and STIs including HIV
• Mental health symptoms:
posttraumatic stress disorder,
depression, anxiety and hostility
Stolen Smiles, The LSHTM, 2006 Daphne
Main health issues
• Substance abuse
• Risky health behaviour
Main SRH health issues
• Risk of STIs and their
complications (PID, chronic pelvic pain,
ectopic pregnancy, infertility)
• Risk of unwanted pregnancy
• Sexual health implications
• Risk of cervical cancer?
WHO work in addressing health
consequences of trafficking
WHO Ethical and safety
recommendations for interviewing
trafficked women
• Collaboration with IOM on Guidelines for
Health Providers on Trafficking in Persons (to
be released)
• Different programmes involved: Sexual and
reproductive health, Gender, Violence and
injuries
2007
www.who.int/gender/documents/
2003