Screening and care for individuals experiencing human trafficking: A practical guide for gynecology and obstetrics providers

Human trafficking is a global problem in which victims are exploited for profit through forced labor, sexual exploitation, or forced marriage. Most human trafficking victims worldwide are women or girls. Women's health professionals, especially obstetrician-gynecologists, are uniquely positioned to identify and provide interventions for individuals who are trafficked when they present for routine gynecological care, pregnancy, sexual trauma, or sexually transmitted infection screening or treatment. Clinicians working in obstetrics and gynecology should have ready access to screening tools for human trafficking victims in the healthcare setting and have a high index of suspicion to recognize victims. Brief, trauma-informed screening should be incorporated into routine confidential visits, and clear referral pathways should be available for all patients. National laws protecting victims of human trafficking vary. Still, most nations are party to the United Nations Protocol on Human Trafficking, which provides special immigration support and legal protection for identified victims of human trafficking. Clinicians working in obstetrics and gynecology should familiarize themselves with their local laws to best support their patients, particularly mandatory reporting statutes.