Child Sex Trafficking: Red Flags, Screening, Health Care Needs, & MDT Response

Human trafficking is a $150 billion dollar industry globally. Human trafficking transcends all races, social classes, demographics, and genders. There is no population exempt from the threat of traffickers who are motivated by greed and are driven by their quota. Traffickers lack respect for basic human rights and prey upon the most vulnerable in society causing their victim’s unspeakable physical and psychological trauma. Child sex trafficking and commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) are major public health issues in the USA and word wide. Victims are estimated to be in the millions and are predominately women and children. 33% of these trafficked victims are children, who are more vulnerable to this manipulation and exploitation. It is estimated that 88% of trafficked children will seek medical care which creates opportunity for healthcare providers to recognize, treat, and provide advocacy for the complex needs of CSEC youth.