Migration, Sexual Exploitation, and Women's Health

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.