Human trafficking is a serious public health issue and has long-term physical, mental, social, and economic consequences for survivors, their families, and communities. The Victims of Trafficking and Violence Protection Act of 2000 defines sex trafficking as a commercial sex act that is induced by force, fraud or coercion, or when a commercial sex act involves a person below 18 years of age. There is inadequate research from the perspectives of survivors. The purpose of this study was to gather data from survivors on their complex needs. We gathered qualitative data from twenty-two women, sex-trafficking survivors in the Midwest who were over 18 years old. Through one-on-one interviews, we obtained rich and authentic descriptions from the perspective of survivors. Interviews were recorded, data were transcribed, and coded and analyzed for key themes. The majority of the sample lived in an urban area, were not married and lived in either foster care or a group home as children. Findings highlighted the lack of awareness among the general public about sex trafficking and the stigma, blame and lack of trust that survivors experience. Frontline professionals such as healthcare providers and law enforcement lacked a trauma informed approach. Survivors highlighted their complex support needs both in the initial aftermath, and in the long-term including mental health services, and job and life skills training to help them fully recover. Including perspectives of survivors helps to ensure that comprehensive strategies address the complex needs of survivors to help them on their road to full recovery.

The study examined rates of possible brain injury among survivors of intimate partner violence. Of the 171 women screened, 91% indicated they had been hit in the head or strangled, and 31% reported it happened more than six times in their life. Only 35% of women who were hit in the head or strangled received medical treatment, and 64% reported losing consciousness or experienced a period of being dazed and confused. Organizations serving intimate partner violence survivors should routinely screen survivors for brain injury so they can obtain timely referrals for neurorehabilitation services to improve their quality of life.

Previous studies have suggested that food preference is a good indicator of actual food intake and that sedentary activity preference is a significant predictor of lower physical activity level. But no studies have examined the direct relationship between leisure time physical activity (LTPA) preferences and actual LTPA behavior, especially studies using longitudinal data. This study seeks to determine the association between these two variables, and to assess whether the association differs between urban and rural areas in China. A total of 2427 Chinese adults were included in the analysis. Spearman correlation coefficients were used to test the association between leisure time physical activity preference and behavior, followed by multiple logistic regressions to further examine the association after adjusting for possible confounding variables. Urban-rural differences in the association were investigated through stratified analysis. In the sample, 63.0% were from urban areas, 47.4% were men, and the mean age was 40. Adjusted estimates based on logistic regression show that LTPA preference was a significant predictor of actual LTPA behavior (OR = 1.05, 95% CI = 1.01–1.09). The correlation was found to be significant among urban residents (OR = 1.06, 95% CI = 1.01–1.10), but not in rural residents. The study illustrates the predictive value of LTPA preference for actual LTPA behavior. Changing LTPA preference to promote LTPA may be helpful in preventing and controlling chronic disease in China.

Survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) are at heightened risk of sustaining a brain injury (BI). Problematically, a high overlap between BI and trauma symptoms leads to difficulties in identifying when an IPV-related BI has occurred. This paper investigated differences in symptom reports between survivors with ( n = 95) and without ( n = 42) probable IPV-related BI. Chi-squared analyses isolated a constellation of symptoms found to be specifically associated with BI status. These symptomatic markers may assist professionals in discerning BI from other comorbid conditions present in IPV, and thus help survivors access BI-specific treatments and resources.

Background : The Association for Prevention Teaching and Research (APTR) sponsored six regional workshops in 2010 on community engagement and community-engaged research. One of the six workshops was a collaborative effort between the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board (GPTCHB)–Northern Plains Tribal Epidemiology Center and the College of Public Health at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC-COPH). Objectives : To create a meaningful and dynamic forum for the exchange of ideas and co-learning between researchers from urban, tribal and nontribal communities and to build the groundwork for development of sustainable partnerships between researchers and American Indian (AI) communities to eliminate health disparities. Methods : To enhance meaningful community engagement, we utilized Methods of Strategic Collaboration using the Appreciative Inquiry, 4D Change Process Model and designed several interactive group activities including Collaborative Learning and Understanding Exercises (CLUE) and the Research Café. Results : The key themes that emerged from the interactive sessions stressed the importance of building relationships and trust; mutual use and sharing of data; and acquiring knowledge, skills, and abilities to enable sustainable research partnerships with AI communities Conclusions : Innovative, dynamic, and strategic collaborative methods of Appreciative Inquiry and the World Café can served to engage people in a constructive dialogue to create a shared vision and plan for more meaningful research partnerships based on principles of equity and social justice, essential for the elimination of health disparities. These collaborative methods can be replicated and adapted in diverse communities, locally, nationally, and globally.

This study examined health profession students’ comfort levels, perceived knowledge, attitudes, and preferences for domestic and sexual violence education at an academic medical center. Students indicated their perceived knowledge of community resources was poor, whereas comfort, attitudes, and perceived knowledge of the topic remained fair. A majority of students (83.2%) reported receiving less than 3 hr of training in their coursework, which remained consistent for students with more years of education. Students preferred content be incorporated into existing curricula or presented in lunch seminars. Study results reveal opportunities for improvement in domestic and sexual violence education.