Publications
Understanding the Retrospective and Current Health Care Needs and Service Experiences of Adult Survivors of Minor Sex Trafficking
Research in Human Development, Pages 135-158, Published online: 25 Oct 2024
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Minor sex trafficking is an urgent public health problem, but we lack data about how such experiences impact health and health care access. Utilizing data collected from in-depth interviews with 35 adult survivors of minor sex trafficking across the U.S. we explored the physical and psychological healthcare access and healthcare experiences of adult survivors of minor sex trafficking. Negative healthcare experiences before, during, and following sex trafficking foster a lack of trust and confidence in healthcare systems as adults. Recommendations are provided to help overcome barriers to meeting healthcare needs and improving health care experiences for survivors of minor sex trafficking.
DOI: 10.1080/15427609.2024.2407257
Prevalence of Neurodevelopmental, Mental, and Behavioral Disorders in a Sample of U.S. Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth, and Associations with Health and Health Care Access
Journal of Human Trafficking, Pages 4-19, Published online: 17 Nov 2024
Little is known about the prevalence of neurodevelopmental, mental, or behavioral disorders among CSEC survivors, and the experiences of CSEC survivors with these disorders with health care. We conducted a self-report survey study with N = 269 youths between the ages of 13 and 24 years old who disclosed that they had experienced CSEC prior to age 18 in the United States. The vast majority, 82%, reported that they had ever been diagnosed with a neurodevelopmental disorder or neurological impairment (i.e. ADHD, autism, intellectual disability, or learning disorder), a serious mental illness (i.e. schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, or bipolar disorder), a mood disorder (i.e. PTSD, depression, or anxiety), or a behavioral disorder (substance use, eating, or conduct disorder). Approximately 26% reported seeking healthcare while being exploited. Those with Serious mental illness (SMI) or behavioral disorder were more likely than other subsets of CSEC survivors to report poor mental and physical health, and negative experiences in the healthcare setting. Our findings have direct implications for efforts that align with the UN's Sustainable Development Goal of “promoting just, peaceful and inclusive societies,” in that they provide support for the idea that health care providers will benefit from training in supporting human trafficking survivors with neurodevelopmental, mental, and behavioral disorders.
DOI: 10.1080/23322705.2024.2426943
Confronting Discrimination: Opportunities and Challenges in Addressing Human Trafficking for Forensic Nurses and Related Disciplines
Journal of Forensic Nursing, Published online: March 14, 2025
Background Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a critical public safety and health concern in the United States. While evidence exists on the healthcare needs of exploited youth, less is known about the barriers they face accessing care. Discrimination in health care is one barrier reported by exploited youth and can include the perception of being treated differently based on perceived intelligence, engagement in commercial sex, or not feeling heard by nurses or doctors. Aims To explore asa experienced or are at high risk of CSEC. Methods Survey data from a sample of 534 young people aged 13–24 years who experienced or are at risk of CSEC were collected via agency partnership and social media. Ordinary least squares and logistic regression models examined the associations among victimization histories and different perceived discrimination events in healthcare settings. CSEC disclosure is highly associated with discriminatory events in medical settings. Results Among evaluated victimization histories, CSEC experiences were the most highly associated with an increase in the odds of each discriminatory event in the present measure, compared to other victimization histories that yielded lower associations of discrimination in medical settings. Experiences of discrimination in health care are an underexamined barrier to CSEC victims seeking and engaging with health care. Implications By fostering a supportive, nonjudgmental environment, healthcare providers can improve healthcare experiences for CSEC survivors. Recommendations include enhancing training for healthcare professionals and creating more accessible and supportive healthcare services tailored to the unique needs of these young people.
DOI: 10.1097/JFN.0000000000000542