The Role of Organizational Policies and Protocols in Service Providers’ Delivery of Appropriate Services to Sex Trafficked Persons in Canada

Articles in Press

Document Type : Short Communication

Authors

1 Women’s College Hospital Research & Innovation Institute, Women’s College Hospital, Toronto, ON, Canada

2 Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

3 Ontario Network of Sexual Assault/Domestic Violence Treatment Centres, Toronto, ON, Canada

Abstract

Organizational policies or protocols have been recommended as a potential means of improving sex trafficking services. Therefore, we examined the role of organizational policies or protocols on service providers’ perceptions of challenges in responding to sex trafficked persons. Data were collected using an online, anonymous, national survey between February and August 2023. The healthcare, social, and community service providers surveyed were asked to what extent they agreed or disagreed with the statements, “There are challenges that prevent me from providing the appropriate care, support, or services to sex trafficked persons” and “There are organizational policies or protocols in my place of work that provide guidance on how to respond to sex trafficked persons.” The analysis included 553 respondents, of whom almost three quarters (72.6%) perceived challenges and less than half (44.9%) reported the availability of organizational policies or protocols. Respondents who worked in an organization with policies or protocols were less likely than those who did not to report challenges in responding to sex trafficked persons (40.9% vs. 55.3%, unadjusted odds ratio = 0.56, P = .003; adjusted odds ratio = 0.64, 95% CI = 0.42, 0.96, P = .03). Our findings highlight the importance of implementing organizational policies or protocols that provide guidance on and facilitate the delivery of appropriate care, support, and services to sex trafficked persons. This may better position service providers to address the serious physical, sexual, and mental health sequalae sex trafficked persons experience.

Keywords

References

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International Journal of Health Policy and Management

Articles in Press, Corrected Proof
Available Online from 17 May 2026

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History

  • Received Date: 23 October 2024
  • Revised Date: 12 August 2025
  • Accepted Date: 16 May 2026
  • First Published Date: 16 May 2026
  • Published Date: 17 May 2026

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