title: Physical health symptoms reported by trafficked women receiving post-trafficking support in Moldova: prevalence, severity and associated factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Many trafficked people suffer high levels of physical, sexual and psychological abuse. Yet, there has been limited research on the physical health problems associated with human trafficking or how the health needs of women in post-trafficking support settings vary according to socio-demographic or trafficking characteristics.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed the prevalence and severity of 15 health symptoms reported by 120 trafficked women who had returned to Moldova between December 2007 and December 2008 and were registered with the International Organisation for Migration Assistance and Protection Programme. Women had returned to Moldova an average of 5.9 months prior to interview (range 2-12 months).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Headaches (61.7%), stomach pain (60.9%), memory problems (44.2%), back pain (42.5%), loss of appetite (35%), and tooth pain (35%) were amongst the most commonly reported symptoms amongst both women trafficked for sexual exploitation and women trafficked for labour exploitation. The prevalence of headache and memory problems was strongly associated with duration of exploitation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Trafficked women who register for post-trafficking support services after returning to their country of origin are likely to have long-term physical and dental health needs and should be provided with access to comprehensive medical services. Health problems among women who register for post-trafficking support services after returning to their country of origin are not limited to women trafficked for sexual exploitation but are also experienced by victims of labour exploitation.
authors: Health Services and Population Research, Institute of Psychiatry at Kings College London, London, UK. sian.oram@kcl.ac.uk
authors: Siân
authors: S
authors: Oram
authors: Nicolae V
authors: NV
authors: Ostrovschi
authors: Viorel I
authors: VI
authors: Gorceag
authors: Mihai A
authors: MA
authors: Hotineanu
authors: Lilia
authors: L
authors: Gorceag
authors: Carolina
authors: C
authors: Trigub
authors: Melanie
authors: M
authors: Abas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003415:Crime; D001068:Feeding and Eating Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006306:Health Surveys; D045809:Human Rights Abuses; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008966:Moldova; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010146:Pain / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D011477:Sex Work; D013997:Time Factors; D016387:Women's Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult