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Barriers for Victims of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Accessing Medical Care and Counseling Services through the Lens of Frontline Providers

Hountz, Rosanne K
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1525180969537813

Abstract Details

2018, Doctor of Nursing Practice Degree Program in Population Health Leadership DNP, Xavier University, Nursing.
Background - Human trafficking is a crime against humanity. It is not unusual for victims of sex trafficking or sexual exploitation to come into contact with a healthcare provider and fail to self-identify due to their lack of understanding related to what sex trafficking is and how they may be sexually exploited by someone they know. Healthcare providers may miss important clinical, psychological, and emotional symptoms of victims who are sex trafficked or who are experiencing sexual exploitation due to a lack of education, training, and/or experience. Purpose - The purpose of this project was to describe the barriers for victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation to access medical care and counseling services through the lens of frontline service providers in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Medical care includes medical exam (emergent, urgent, on-going medical care including forensic exam) and counseling services (mental health and substance abuse counseling). Methodology - This descriptive study used a convenience sample of frontline service providers in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Fifteen frontline service providers across four agencies participated in this research study from 11/30/2017 to 01/23/2018 from both Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. A 21-item anonymous questionnaire was administered through Survey Monkey® beginning 11/30/2017 through 01/23/2018 to frontline providers working in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Analysis - Data Analysis included descriptive statistics for all Likert-scale responses. Open-ended questions were analyzed using directed content analysis as well as thematic analyses using frequency of word/phrase occurrence to identify common words/phrases across participant responses. Results - The results indicated a collaborative education and training specific to healthcare, victim safety as well as trauma informed policies & practice are key environmental/organizational themes. Additional environmental/organizational barriers were reported to include medical coverage/medical care, appropriate housing, counseling and addiction services. Trauma based care and a victim centered approach was reported by all participating professions i.e. healthcare, law enforcement, and counselors. Participants also indicated that shame, stigma, fear, trust, inability to self –advocate, and family and community support are all key psycho-social barriers to accessing medical care and counseling services in Southwest Ohio & Northern Kentucky. Conclusions - Providing frontline service to victims of sex trafficking and sexual exploitation has many barriers related to successful engagement of victims and providers in the areas of healthcare, counseling, housing, and substance abuse recovery services. Victim-survivors often seek medical attention with healthcare providers who miss the opportunity to identify the victims and provide victim-centered, trauma-informed care. Medical care, counseling services, housing, education and substance abuse recovery services are key for building stable lives to this vulnerable population. This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge related to what the key barriers are for victims of sex trafficking who interact with frontline service providers in Southwest Ohio and Northern Kentucky. Future work should include how frontline providers can collaborate with one another to address frontline service provider
Kelly Bohnhoff, PhD, RN, MFT, CTP (Committee Chair)
Debra VanKuiken, PhD (Committee Co-Chair)
86 p.
Nursing
barriers, healthcare, sex trafficking, sexual exploitation, frontline service providers, medical care, counseling services

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Hountz, R. K. (2018). Barriers for Victims of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Accessing Medical Care and Counseling Services through the Lens of Frontline Providers [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1525180969537813

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hountz, Rosanne. Barriers for Victims of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Accessing Medical Care and Counseling Services through the Lens of Frontline Providers . 2018. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1525180969537813.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hountz, Rosanne. "Barriers for Victims of Sex Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation in Accessing Medical Care and Counseling Services through the Lens of Frontline Providers ." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xavier1525180969537813

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xavier1525180969537813
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© 2018, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by Xavier University and OhioLINK.