Citation

Deshpande NA, Nour NM. Rev Obstet Gynecol 2013; 6(1): e22-7.

Affiliation

Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

23687554

PMCID

PMC3651545

Abstract

Sex trafficking involves some form of forced or coerced sexual exploitation that is not limited to prostitution, and has become a significant and growing problem in both the United States and the larger global community. The costs to society include the degradation of human and women's rights, poor public health, disrupted communities, and diminished social development. Victims of sex trafficking acquire adverse physical and psychological health conditions and social disadvantages. Thus, sex trafficking is a critical health issue with broader social implications that requires both medical and legal attention. Healthcare professionals can work to improve the screening, identification, and assistance of victims of sex trafficking in a clinical setting and help these women and girls access legal and social services.

Language: en