Migration, sexual exploitation, and women's health: a case report from a community health center

Violence Against Women. 2007 May;13(5):486-97. doi: 10.1177/1077801207301614.

Abstract

An estimated 50,000 women and children are annually trafficked into the United States, resulting in complex health and social consequences and significant risk for violence. This article presents a case of a trafficked woman identified in the U.S. health system and describes the vulnerabilities to forced prostitution as a result of trafficking and the challenges in providing an effective and comprehensive response to meet safety and health care needs. Health care providers are in a unique position to identify and support U.S. sex trafficking victims; thus, education and training for health care professionals on trafficking is needed.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Battered Women / psychology*
  • Child
  • Child Welfare*
  • Community Health Centers / organization & administration*
  • Developing Countries
  • Emigration and Immigration*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Pregnancy
  • Refugees
  • Sex Work / ethnology
  • Spouse Abuse / prevention & control*
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Women's Health / ethnology
  • Women's Health Services / organization & administration
  • Women's Rights*