Human Trafficking:
Signs for Health Professionals
Health professionals can play a critical role in helping to identify potential victims of human trafficking. Research suggests that 50%-88% of victims come into contact with a health professional during the time of their trafficking. During interactions with patients, health professionals should be aware of the general signs of trafficking as well as those specific to clinical settings.
| Reason(s) for Medical Attention and/or Symptoms | Anxiety |
| Depression | |
| Suicide attempt | |
| Disordered sleep | |
| Substance use or addiction | |
| Physical traumatic injury | |
| Physical or sexual abuse | |
| Multiple pregnancies | |
| Frequent use of emergency contraception | |
| Sexually transmitted and blood borne infections (STBBI) | |
| Genitourinary infection* | |
| Lack of prenatal care | |
| Behaviours of Patient | Avoids eye contact, nervous, fearful, and/or withdrawn |
| Inconsistent history or history appears rehearsed | |
| Resistant to answer questions about injury | |
| Provides a cover story for injuries (e.g., rare blood condition) | |
| Resistant to care, may initially consent but then change their mind (e.g., changes mind after being asked to undress for exam) | |
| Hypersexualized behaviour* | |
| Early sexual activity | |
| Multiple sexual partners | |
| Characteristics and Behaviours of Accompanying Adult | Unrelated to patient |
| Older romantic partner | |
| Controlling | |
| Will not let patient speak for themself or be alone during care | |
| Forces patient to leave before treatment is received or completed | |
| Insists on being the translator if one is needed |
*These signs (i.e., genitourinary infections and hypersexual behaviour) are particularly important signs for young victims of child sex trafficking, which can begin as early as age 3 through familial trafficking.
Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking (SSCST)
A 6-item Short Screen for Child Sex Trafficking (SSCST) has been developed for use by pediatric health professionals treating adolescents (11-17 years). For patients with a positive response to two or more of the following questions, odds of trafficking victimization are 22 times higher than among patients with zero or one positive response.