Impact of Trafficking on Women’s Health: Evidence from Sri Lanka
摘要
Health is a major, but less documented area of trafficking. When focused, it is dominated by women’s sexual and reproductive health. Yet trafficked women face other health issues created by working environments, living conditions, poor sanitation, inadequate nutrition, limited health care access, etc. A comprehensive analysis of trafficked women’s health is therefore warranted to gauge the full impact of trafficking on health, which is the aim of this study. Sri Lanka is a hub for trafficking, and the need is essential. Primary data from 94 family members who lodged complaints about a trafficked female family member at the Repatriation Section of the Ministry of Foreign Employment, Sri Lanka provides the data for the study. The respondents were selected by applying purposive sampling method, and the analysis was based on the triangulation of quantitative (survey) and qualitative (in-depth interviews) data. The majority (97%) of the women have migrated as labour migrants and ended up being trafficked. ‘Very bad or bad’ health was reported by 92%, due to physical illnesses (57%—mainly blood pressure, skin diseases, breathing difficulties/asthma, heart diseases), mental issues (93%—mainly sleeplessness, anxiety, declining self-aggrandizement), or disabilities (19%—mainly leg and hand). Physical (76%) and mental (69%) harassment at work and harassment from recruitment agency personnel (13%) were the main reasons for health conditions. Health risks are cumulative, and could even lead to death. While strict state regulation on illegal migration is needed, since most of the trafficked are legal labour migrants, policy should target the well-being of migrant workers at destinations.