An Ecological Approach toward the Prevention and Care of Victims of Domestic Minor Sex Trafficking

Author: Sanchez, Rosario & Pacquiao, Dula

Abstract: Sex trafficking is a widespread form of human trafficking that exists globally. The forced sexual exploitation of young females for profit at the hands of traffickers is a human rights violation. Sex trafficking is a form of modern-day slavery where youths are sold as a commodity. It is difficult to determine the wide range of negative health outcomes associated with domestic minor sex trafficking due to the hidden nature of the crime and its lack of statistical data to determine prevalence. Viewing domestic minor sex trafficking through an ecological lens, assists in the understanding of the multiple complex interactions between victims, their relationships, and environments that influence their health. Forensic nurses are poised as experts in the healthcare of vulnerable populations and possess the knowledge to understand that social determinants of vulnerability depend on the distinct setting or environment where victims of sex trafficking reside and how different factors affect their victimology, resilience, and wellbeing.

Keywords: social determinants, human trafficking, vulnerability, ecological model, domestic minor sex trafficking (DMST), adolescents, violence, forensic nursing