TY - JOUR PY - 2022// TI - Feasibility of training/education of tattoo artists in the prevention of sex trafficking JO - Progress in community health partnerships: research, education, and action A1 - Rajaram, Shireen S. A1 - Judkins, Mel A1 - Samson, Kaeli A1 - Ojha, Tanushree A1 - Smith, Lynette SP - 271 EP - 276 VL - 16 IS - 2 N2 - BACKGROUND: Women who are sex trafficked within the United States are often forced to get tattoos such as bar codes, dollar signs, or the name of the trafficker-the person who is selling them for sex. Tattoo artists may routinely encounter a sex trafficking survivor while she is being trafficked. As frontline professionals, they are in a unique position to assist in the secondary prevention of sex trafficking.

OBJECTIVES: The main objective of this community-based participatory research project was to hold a tattoo-summit to: a) disseminate information on sex trafficking and the tattoo industry, b) assess the feasibility of training/education of tattoo artists on sex trafficking, c) determine areas of foci and best method(s) for a training/educational intervention, and d) recruit volunteers for a community advisory board to assist in the training/education of tattoo artists on the secondary prevention of sex trafficking.

METHODS: The tattoo-summit included a presentation by a nationally known tattoo artist, a free educational luncheon-presentation on sex trafficking by a public health researcher and a law-enforcement sex trafficking expert, and a mediated discussion. Post-summit evaluation data included improvement in knowledge of sex trafficking and ability to respond to trafficking in their work, and participants' perspectives on future training approaches.

CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that community-based participatory research is an effective way to partner with tattoo artists in raising awareness of sex trafficking. Hence, it is important that we reach out to non-traditional frontline partners such as tattoo artists to improve the health of all people. Keywords: Human trafficking;

Language: en

LA - en SN - 1557-055X UR - http://dx.doi.org/10.1353/cpr.2022.0030 ID - ref1 ER -