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Published in: International Journal of Public Health 7/2019

01-09-2019 | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder | Original article

Gender differences in the association of living and working conditions and the mental health of trafficking survivors

Authors: Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios, Siobán D. Harlow, Sarah. A. Burgard, Ligia Kiss, Cathy Zimmerman

Published in: International Journal of Public Health | Issue 7/2019

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Abstract

Objectives

To assess the association of living and working conditions experienced during trafficking with mental health of female and male survivors.

Methods

We analyzed a cross-sectional study of 1015 survivors who received post-trafficking services in Cambodia, Thailand, and Vietnam. Modified Poisson regression models were conducted by gender to estimate prevalence ratios.

Results

For females, the elevated prevalence of anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms was associated with adverse living conditions, while for males the prevalence of anxiety (PR = 2.21; 95% CI 1.24–3.96) and depression (PR = 2.63; 95% CI 1.62–4.26) more than doubled and almost tripled for PTSD (PR = 2.93; 95% CI 1.65–5.19) after adjustment. For males in particular, excessive and extreme working hours per day were associated with more than a four- and threefold greater prevalence of PTSD. Being in a detention center or jail was associated with all three mental health outcomes in males.

Conclusions

Providers and stakeholders need to consider the complex mental health trauma of the differential effects of living and working conditions for female and male survivors during trafficking to support treatment and recovery.
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Metadata
Title
Gender differences in the association of living and working conditions and the mental health of trafficking survivors
Authors
Lisbeth Iglesias-Rios
Siobán D. Harlow
Sarah. A. Burgard
Ligia Kiss
Cathy Zimmerman
Publication date
01-09-2019
Publisher
Springer International Publishing
Published in
International Journal of Public Health / Issue 7/2019
Print ISSN: 1661-8556
Electronic ISSN: 1661-8564
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-019-01269-2

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