Meeting the Physical and Psychological Health Needs of Young People Experiencing Commercial Sexual Exploitation

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Abstract

Young people who experience commercial sexual exploitation have numerous healthcare needs, some of which predate their exploitation experiences and others which emerge because of being exploited. Research has begun to document these needs among various populations of at risk and exploited youth, but less is known about how young people try to access healthcare, the barriers they face to meeting their health needs, and the types of services that would be most supportive to ensuring health and wellbeing. Using survey data from an innovative sample of 500 young people who experienced commercial sexual exploitation as a youth, half of whom were recruited from agencies serving youth who experience exploitation and half of whom were recruited through social media outreach, we identify the healthcare needs that are or are not being met among diverse populations of youth who experience exploitation. We describe the frequency of different healthcare system contacts and explore barriers that youth identify to meeting their healthcare needs. We provide recommendations for improving healthcare systems to better respond to the physical and psychological health needs of young people who experience commercial sexual exploitation.

Authors

• Amy Farrell, Northeastern University

• Carlos Cuevas, Northeastern University

• Alisa Lincoln, Northeastern University

• Amelia Wagner, Northeastern University

• Sarah Lockwood, University of South Florida

• Rebecca Pfeffer, RTI International

• Jaclyn Kolnik, RTI International

• Lisa Jones, University of New Hampshire

• Jennifer O'Brien, University of New Hampshire

• Kimberly Mitchell, University of New Hampshire

• Emily Rothman, Boston University