Overlooked Head Injuries: Trauma Among Commercially Sexually Exploited Youth

• In Event: Poster Session

Abstract

Long-term physical and psychological harm is often experienced by children and youth surviving commercial sexual exploitation (CSE). Similar to domestic violence injuries, internal damage can be less obvious than black eyes or externally assessable injuries. Most CSE victims report seeking some medical help during their exploitation (Lederer & Wetzel, 2014). Victims also report being reluctant to discuss their injuries or exploitation as they are afraid of being negatively judged (Ijadi-Maghsoodi et al., 2020). Untreated injuries can lead to serious, long-term consequences. Among adults working in the sex industry, 72-90% have experienced serious head injuries (Baumann et al., 2019; Farley et al., 2011). As part of a large mixed-methods research project on CSE, supported by a National Institute of Justice research grant, 96 young adults (aged 18-24) were asked about their experiences while being trafficked as children. Participants were diverse (35.1% African American, 30.9% Latinx, 19.1% White, 9.6% mixed, and 5.3% other). The majority reported seeking medical treatment for injuries sustained while trading or selling sex (91.2%)This research project will discuss the types of injuries sustained (e.g., being choked, losing consciousness, broken jaw, etc.) and whether medical treatment was sought for those injuries. Policy implications will be presented.

Authors

• Ben Rosenhek, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Leah Hannon, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• Elizabeth Groesbeck, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

• M. Alexis Kennedy, University of Nevada, Las Vegas