Barriers to the access and utilization of healthcare for trafficked youth in the United States

• PMID: 34419901
 
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chiabu.2021.105259

Background: Child trafficking is a pervasive public health problem in the United States, with significant health consequences for survivors. Previous studies demonstrated that survivors face barriers to healthcare, though much of the literature has not solely focused on domestic child trafficking.

Objective: To identify barriers to healthcare faced by survivors of child trafficking in the United States, and to characterize the landscape of available trauma-informed medical services.

Participants: 62 adult survivors of child trafficking (83% female, 10% male, 7% transgender; 90% sex trafficking, 25% labor trafficking; median age of entry 16) and 37 community agency professionals who work with trafficked children.

Setting: The United States of America.

Methods: The Barriers to Care Questionnaire (BCQ) was adapted, piloted with a focus group, and disseminated to participants.

Results:

Conclusions: Survivors of child trafficking in the U.S. experience a wide range of barriers to healthcare, and a lack of available trauma-informed healthcare. This study identified barriers to healthcare that can be considered by providers hoping to provide accessible and truama-informed services to trafficked children.

Keywords: Barriers to care; Child trafficking; Commercial sexual exploitation of children; Healthcare; Human trafficking; Trafficked youth.