Researchers are partnering with IPA Uganda, Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT), seven partner organizations in Kampala, Uganda and a Survivor Advisory Group to conduct a randomized evaluation to measure whether a mind-body program for survivors of human trafficking improves their mental health, physical, and social well-being.
 

The Challenge

Survivors of human trafficking often endure exploitative, coercive, and violent experiences, putting them at a heightened risk for severe mental health challenges. Left unaddressed, these mental health issues can increase their vulnerability to future trafficking. However, in many low-resource settings, survivors lack access to evidence-based mental health services specifically designed for their unique needs.

In response to this gap, Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT) developed Move with HaRT, a 12-session, weekly mind-body program tailored to survivors of human trafficking. The program incorporates breathwork, yoga poses, guided relaxation, mindfulness techniques, and themed discussions to foster a sense of selfhood, rebuild trust, and enhance control over one’s body.

The Evaluation

Researchers in partnership with IPA Uganda and partner agencies (Hope for Justice, Rahab, Set Her Free, UYDEL, Ever free, The Remnant Generation and Dwelling Places) are conducting a randomized evaluation to assess whether Move with HaRT improves mental health outcomes, as well as physical and social well-being, among survivors of human trafficking.

A total of 318 survivors of human trafficking were randomly assigned to either participate in the Move with HaRT program or receive standard services available to them. As part of a commitment to a participatory approach, a Survivor Advisory Group (SAG) is actively engaged in providing technical guidance throughout the research and program programming.

The intervention was implemented in three waves:

• In Wave 1, data collection was completed with 77 women and girls at the start of the intervention, 73 at the end of the intervention, and 69 at follow-up, primarily from residential shelters.
• Wave 2 included both shelter-based and community drop-in center participants, with 164 respondents at the start of the intervention, 158 at the end of the intervention, and 155 at follow-up.
• For Wave 3, data collection concluded with 77 respondents at the start of the intervention, 73 at the end of the intervention, and 76 at follow-up.

In addition to conducting surveys, researchers collected qualitative data to measure the program’s impact. This included 8 Focus Group Discussions with SHiNE partner staff at the end of each end-of-intervention program cycle, and 47 in-depth interviews with participants:  37 with Move with HaRT participants (26 at the end of the intervention and 11 at 6-month follow-up), and 10 with participants in the ‘services as usual’ arm of the study.

Results

Attendance records demonstrate high engagement, even among community-based participants. SHiNE achieved an 88.5 percent attendance rate, with participants attending an average of 10.6 out of 12 sessions. This provides evidence that participants prioritized the program, valued the sessions, and found the content relevant to their lived experiences.

The study is expected to conclude in 2025. Data analysis is still ongoing, with preliminary findings anticipated before the end of the year. These findings will provide critical insights into the feasibility of scaling up the Move with HaRT program for broader implementation.

Sources

^1. Hom, Kristin A., and Stephanie J. Woods. "Trauma and its aftermath for commercially sexually exploited women as told by front-line service providers." Issues in mental health nursing 34, no. 2 (2013): 75-81.

Ottisova, Livia, Patrick Smith, and Sian Oram. "Psychological consequences of human trafficking: Complex posttraumatic stress disorder in trafficked children." Behavioral medicine 44, no. 3 (2018): 234-241.

Walker, Rebecca, and Elsa Oliveira. "Contested spaces: Exploring the intersections of migration, sex work and trafficking in South Africa." Graduate Journal of Social Science 11, no. 2 (2015): 129-153.

^2. Namy, Sophie, Catherine Carlson, Kelsey Morgan, Violet Nkwanzi, and Jessica Neese. "Healing and Resilience after Trauma (HaRT) Yoga: Programming with survivors of human trafficking in Uganda." Journal of Social Work Practice 36, no. 1 (2022): 87-100.

^3. Collins, Shane P., Shira M. Goldenberg, Nancy J. Burke, Ietza Bojorquez-Chapela, Jay G. Silverman, and Steffanie A. Strathdee. "Situating HIV risk in the lives of formerly trafficked female sex workers on the Mexico–US border." AIDS care 25, no. 4 (2013): 459-465.

Implementing Partners