94 research outputs found
Human trafficking and health in UK public policy
Background:
The
issue
of
human
trafficking
has
risen
up
international
and
national
political
agendas
in
the
last
decade.
Existing
evidence
suggests
that
many
trafficked
people
suffer
from
a
range
of
health
problems
as
a
result
of
their
experiences.
This
research
sought
to
analyse
how
health
was
incorporated
into
the
UK
response
to
trafficking
between
2000
and
20
I
O.
Methods:
Qualitative
data
was
collected
through
semi-structured
interviews,
participant
observation
at
policy-relevant
events
and
document
collection.
Data
analysis
was
organised
according
to
the
principles
of
framework
analysis.
Results:
Trafficking
has
been
defined
in
the
UK
as
a
problem
of
organised
immigration
crime
and
the
dominance
of
this
definition
has
limited
the
extent
to
which
health
was
incorporated
into
the
national
policy
response.
Non-governmental
organisations
(NGOs)
strategically
used
information
about
the
health
consequences
of
trafficking
to
support
their
arguments
for
the
provision
of
support
and
protection
to
trafficked
people.
They
did
not
use
the
information,
however,
to
argue
for
health-
related
policy
change.
The
Department
of
Health
(OH)
and
healthcare
providers
were
not
engaged
in
trafficking
policymaking
and
there
was
no
discernable
domestic
pressure
to
develop
a
health-
based
response.
A
limited
amount
of
health-related
policy
change
did
occur
following
the
UK's
ratification
of
the
Council
of
Europe
Convention
on
Action
against
Trafficking
in
Human
Beings,
but
the
scope
of
these
changes
was
restricted
by
the
lack
of
awareness
in
the
health
sector
about
trafficking
and
by
the
shortage
of
information
relating
to
how
trafficked
people
use
health
services.
Conclusions:
Future
health-related
policy
change
is
likely
to
be
limited
so
long
as
healthcare
providers
fail
to
act
as
advocates
within
the
policymaking
process
and
the
OH
remains
on
the
margins
of
the
policy
subsyste
Mental health and human trafficking: responding to survivors' needs.
Mental health professionals have opportunities to intervene and provide care for trafficked people. Research shows that mental health problems - including depression, anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder - are prevalent among trafficked people, and that at least some trafficked people come into contact with secondary mental health services in England
Maternity care for trafficked women : survivor experiences and cliniciansâ perspectives in the United Kingdomâs National Health Service
Background
Although trafficked women and adolescents are at risk of unprotected or forced sex, there is little research on maternity care among trafficking survivors. We explored health care needs, service use and challenges among women who became pregnant while in the trafficking situation in the United Kingdom (UK) and cliniciansâ perspectives of maternity care for trafficked persons.
Methods
Cross-sectional survey and qualitative interviews with trafficking survivors recruited from statutory and voluntary sector organisations in England and qualitative interviews with maternity clinicians and family doctors undertaken to offer further insight into experiences reported by these women.
Findings
Twenty-eight (29%) of 98 women who took part in a large study of trafficking survivors reported one or more pregnancies while trafficked, whose data are reported here. Twelve (42.8%) of these women reported at least one termination of pregnancy while in the trafficking situation and 25 (89.3%) experienced some form of mental health disorder. Nineteen (67.9%) women experienced pre-trafficking physical abuse and 9 (32.%) sexual abuse. A quarter of women were trafficked for sexual exploitation, six for domestic servitude and two for manual labour. Survivors and clinicians described service challenges, including restrictions placed on womenâs movements by traffickers, poor knowledge on how to access maternity care, poor understanding of healthcare entitlements and concerns about confidentiality. Maternity care clinicians recognised potential indicators of trafficking, but considered training would help them identify and respond to victims. Main limitations include that findings reflect women who had exited the trafficking situation, however as some had only recently exited the trafficking situation, difficulties with recall were likely to be low.
Conclusions
More than one in four women became pregnant while trafficked, indicating that maternity services offer an important contact point for identification and care. Given the prevalence of sexual exploitation and abuse among trafficking survivors, clinicians should ensure antenatal care and screening for sexually transmitted infections can be readily accessed by women. Clinicians require specialised training alongside designated pathways and protocols with clear referral options to ensure confidential maternity care tailored to each womanâs needs
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Carersâ experiences of involuntary admission under mental health legislation:systematic review and qualitative meta-synthesis
Background
Carers are key providers of care and support to mental health patients and mental health policies consistently mandate carer involvement. Understanding carers' experiences of and views about assessment for involuntary admission and subsequent detention is crucial to efforts to improve policy and practice.
Aims
We aimed to synthesise qualitative evidence of carers' experiences of the assessment and detention of their family and friends under mental health legislation.
Method
We searched five bibliographic databases, reference lists and citations. Studies were included if they collected data using qualitative methods and the patients were aged 18 or older; reported on carer experiences of assessment or detention under mental health legislation anywhere in the world; and were published in peer-reviewed journals. We used meta-synthesis.
Results
The review included 23 papers. Themes were consistent across time and setting and related to the emotional impact of detention; the availability of support for carers; the extent to which carers felt involved in decision-making; relationships with patients and staff during detention; and the quality of care provided to patients. Carers often described conflicting feelings of relief coupled with distress and anxiety about how the patient might cope and respond. Carers also spoke about the need for timely and accessible information, supportive and trusting relationships with mental health professionals, and of involvement as partners in care.
Conclusions
Research is needed to explore whether and how health service and other interventions can improve the involvement and support of carers prior to, during and after the detention of family members and friends
Improving the mental health of women intimate partner violence survivors: Findings from a realist review of psychosocial interventions
Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of mental health problems. A broad range of psychosocial interventions have been developed to support the recovery of women survivors of IPV, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear
Improving the mental health of women intimate partner violence survivors: Findings from a realist review of psychosocial interventions
Background Intimate partner violence (IPV) is highly prevalent and is associated with a range of mental health problems. A broad range of psychosocial interventions have been developed to support the recovery of women survivors of IPV, but their mechanisms of action remain unclear. Methods Realist review following a prospectively published protocol in PROSPERO (CRD42018114207) and reported using the Realist and Meta-narrative Evidence Synthesis: Evolving Standards (RAMSES) guidelines. Results Evidence was extracted from 60 reviews and triangulated in expert consultations. Mechanisms of action were categorised as either associated with intervention design and delivery or with specific intervention components (access to resources and services; safety, control and support; increased knowledge; alterations to affective states and cognitions; improved self-management; improved family and social relations). Conclusions Findings suggest that psychosocial interventions to improve the mental health of women survivors of IPV have the greatest impact when they take a holistic view of the problem and provide individualised and trauma-informed support
Responding to the health needs of trafficked people: A qualitative study of professionals in England and Scotland
Trafficked people require timely and ongoing access to healthcare services. Yet, many encounter difficulties accessing and utilising healthcare services, both while in situations of exploitation and after their escape. This research investigated barriers that hinder healthcare providers from identifying, providing care and making necessary referrals for trafficked people in the United Kingdom (UK). Semiâstructured, faceâtoâface interviews were conducted with healthcare (n = 23) and nonâhealth (n = 27) professionals with relevant policy or practical experience related to human trafficking in the UK. Topic guides covered identifying, referring and providing care to trafficked people. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis. Four interconnected themes emerged: trafficked personsâ entitlements to healthcare, availability of healthcare resources, providersâ knowledge about trafficking, and the particular needs of trafficked individuals. Providers explained that policies limiting entitlements to healthcare created significant obstacles to care, as did the inadequate resourcing of interpreter services, trafficking support services, and specialist mental health services. Few healthcare professionals reported having received training on responses to trafficked people and most were unaware of support options and referral routes. Healthcare professionals will be better equipped to serve trafficked individuals if they are provided training to identify and respond to human trafficking, guidance on referral and support options and entitlements to care. Simultaneously, improving trafficked people's healthcare access and use will also require government interventions to ensure they are not unjustifiably denied healthcare
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