My Body, My Choice: An Adapted Sexual Health Intervention for Youth with Histories of Commercial Sexual Exploitation

Author: Bath, Eraka; Godoy, Sarah; Perris, Georgia; Ramos, Jenifer; Aralis, Hilary & Barnert, Elizabeth

Abstract: Youth with commercial sexual exploitation (CSE) histories experience high rates of unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted infections, with few interventions targeting their needs. We therefore piloted an evidence-based sexual health education intervention tailored for CSE-impacted youth, My Body, My Choice (MBMC). MBMC was implemented in two rounds between March and October 2021 with a total of 37 youth who completed a baseline questionnaire, engaged in a 13 to 16-hour online course over two to three weeks, and then assessed the course’s likability and feasibility via a post-course evaluation survey. To measure sexual health knowledge retention and attitudes, follow-up questionnaires were administered at baseline, 1-month, and 3-months post-course. Descriptive and bivariate analyses examined demographic characteristics and differences between timepoints. Most participants identified as female (92%), and Latinx (57%) or Black (27%). Overall, youth had an improved understanding of sexual health concepts over time, with significantly increased knowledge regarding birth control methods such as IUDs and condoms. Youth expressed high rates of satisfaction with MBMC, with 93% seeking continued course access. Findings underscore the utility and acceptability of MBMC and may inform future interventions to reduce health disparities and improve sexual health outcomes among youth with CSE histories.

Keywords: sexual health, commercial sexual exploitation, child sex trafficking, youth, adolescent, intervention research