Human trafficking as a public health crisis and societal issue

Public Health Issues in the Media: Human Trafficking

The impact of the topic and why it is an issue for public health

There is no doubt that human trafficking is a modern form of slavery. Such victims are subjected to sex slavery through threats of violence and various forms of exploitation being meted against them if they do not comply. Victims of human trafficking suffer from range of physical and mental health which result from the experiences of abuse and mistreatment by the traffickers (Gray, 2016; McEachran, 2014). Human trafficking is a global problem that affects economically vulnerable groups more than the rest of society. The nature of trafficking is such that it's a long-term affliction. It affects both the victim and the rest of their community. Thus, human trafficking is a public health problem.

There are many mental and physical effects of trafficking. Some of these include chronic pelvic pain, depression and post traumatic stress disorder (Gray, 2016). Victims of human trafficking should seek professional help from counselling experts. The only problem at the moment is that such services are not readily accessible by such victims. Most health care givers have not been given the requisite education to handle such cases. Moreover, there is a data deficit on health needs and the characteristics of victims of trafficking. Data on the best prevention and intervention is also scanty.

Which institutions, groups, and/or individuals are affected by this issue?

Human trafficking is a global industry even as it is a pandemic. The income generated from the industry runs into billions of dollars. The effect of trafficking is felt in countries from where people trafficked. And those to where people are moved to. There are effects for both sets of countries. Children and women who are trafficked for the sexual exploitation are at a high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS and other STIs. There is also a risk of spreading the illnesses to the rest of the population. The human trafficking process is a dangerous one and involves even holding the victims for significant periods long after they have reached their destination. The conditions that the victims are subjected to have far reaching negative mental and physical effects on the victims (McEachran, 2014). Children are known to be vulnerable to trafficking, particularly the ones who are not within supportive care environment.

Law agencies in both countries of origin and the destination of the trafficked victims are challenged by organised criminal gangs which go beyond issues of trafficking. Such issues as how well the countries such as the US track and prosecute traffickers and application of the threat to prosecute as a means of deterring the practice have an effect on human trafficking trends (McEachran, 2014; Gray, 2016).

Which sociological perspective(s) could be used to understand why the health issue exists and/or persists?

iii. Symbolic-Interaction

The above approach examines social interactions at the micro-level. The approach takes cognizance of the fact that each person attaches meaning to their relationships and situation. It also recognizes that individuals give meaning to their life at the personal level courtesy of their experiences (Lerum & Brents, 2016). They use daily experiences and apply to their general life. It is hard to recognize that there is some individual symbolic interplay at the micro level. However, each of those involved and thus affected applies their own thinking and symbolic significance to their own scenarios.

What type of social change would be needed in order to address the issue? Which social institutions should be involved?

If human trafficking is to come to an end, people must be assured that there will be no human adversity that will lead them to leave their home in abandonment in pursuit of better living in another country. There should be a determined effort to ensure that every person has a fair chance of earning a living and devising ways to enhance happiness and wellbeing (McEachran, 2014). It is only when such conditions are guaranteed as opposed to promoting the survival for the fittest attitude and policies that potential victims of human trafficking will have some hope.

Implementing policies and promoting social equality depends to the United Nations to a large extent. Human trafficking is a horror that remains real in our present world. There are millions of people falling victim to the vice every year. Many thousands are victimised within the US borders. Since the problems are complex and serious, they require intervention from a range of spheres of society. Strengthening the family fabric and vibrant religious communities have the capacity to extend personalized care to the potential victims of human trafficking. Many and varying social change institutions are involved. They include governments, NGOs and welfare organizations.