![]() There is limited research on the patterns of physical examination findings that have historically led to the identification of and intervention with affected individuals. In the United States, research suggests that 50% to 88% of identified trafficked persons seek health care while they are being exploited ( Armstrong et al., 2019). Many trafficked people suffer physical, sexual, and psychological abuse. Women being trafficked for sexual exploitation was the most prevalent category of trafficking among all major geographic regions surveyed. According to the Global Report on Trafficking, 50% of trafficked persons were victims of sexual exploitation, 38% forced labor, and 6% to 7% were involved in criminal activity ( United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2020). When minors (age <18 years) engage in commercial sex, it is considered sex trafficking, regardless of coercion or fraud. ![]() Victims are often exposed to dangerous and inhumane conditions and can present with occupational injuries and dermatitis. Labor trafficking includes domestic servants, agricultural farmworkers, and factory workers. Trafficking often takes two forms: labor and commercial sex. ![]() Educating medical staff on indicators of human trafficking can assist with identifying and providing resources for victims of trafficking. Most cases go unreported due to language barriers and fear of traffickers and law enforcement. Globally, 20.9 million are victims of forced labor, including 4.5 million victims of forced sexual exploitation ( Shandro et al., 2016). An estimated 50,000 people are trafficked in the United States each year. Many people are trafficked within their own homes. Trafficking does not require crossing state or national borders, and an estimated 83% of trafficked individuals in the United States are citizens ( Shandro et al., 2016). ![]() Human trafficking is an emerging public health issue however, there is limited research and expertise in the medical field on this topic.Ĭontrary to popular belief, trafficking is not synonymous with smuggling. According to the United Nations ( United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2020), women are the most trafficked victims across the globe. Trafficking does not discriminate by age, race, gender, or nationality however, vulnerable groups at increased risk of becoming trafficked include incarcerated or formerly incarcerated individuals, foster and runaway youth, victims of sexual abuse, women, and LGBTQ+ individuals ( Armstrong et al., 2019). Human trafficking is a human rights violation affecting millions of individuals, with the use of force, deception, or coercion to recruit and exploit individuals for labor and commercial sex acts. This review outlines important identification guidelines that dermatologists and the broader medical community can use to recognize victims and take appropriate action while also raising awareness of human trafficking as an emerging public health issue. Significant findings of rashes and brandings, such as tattoos, were more likely in sex-trafficked patients, whereas burns, injuries, and deep cuts were more likely to be found in labor-trafficked patients. After screening 577 pertinent records in the PubMed and Google Scholar databases for information about the physical signs of human trafficking in health care, 10 final studies were selected. We sought to identify the dermatologic signs reported in human-trafficking victims to create a framework for dermatologists and the broader medical community to appropriately screen patients at risk. Although there is research regarding identification protocols for human-trafficking victims, there is no framework outlining the dermatologic patterns of survivors of human trafficking. Human-trafficking survivors suffer significant physical, mental, and social health consequences, prompting them to seek health care services.
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