@article{ref1,
title="Survivors of commercial sexual exploitation involved in the justice system: mental health outcomes, HIV/STI risks, and perceived needs to exit exploitation and facilitate recovery",
journal="Sexes (Basel)",
year="2023",
author="Richie-Zavaleta, Arduizur Carli and Butler, Edina and Torres, Kathi and Urada, Lianne A.",
volume="4",
number="2",
pages="256-268",
abstract="This exploratory retrospective study analyzes the emotional and mental processes, risk behavior for HIV/STIs, and needed services to exit commercial sexual exploitation. Participants were court-referred to the local survivor-led program, Freedom from Exploitation, in southern California. Data were collected (N = 168) using an intake assessment form for a period of five years (2015-2020). Two groups were identified in the data, self-identified survivors of sex trafficking (SST) and non-self-identified survivors of sex trafficking (NSST). Bivariate and multivariate logistic regressions examined the associations of HIV/STI risks and emotional and mental processes with these two subgroups. <br><br>FINDINGS demonstrated that both groups experienced gender-based violence and similar emotional and mental processes as well as HIV/STIs risks. However, in adjusted models, the SST group had three times the odds of experiencing abuse by a sex buyer when asked to use a condom and eight times the odds of feeling hopeless or desperate and experiencing nightmares/flashbacks among other negative mental health outcomes. Both SST and NSST said they needed assistance to obtain legal services and complete a high school equivalency credential, among other services. <br><br>FINDINGS may be used by social service and law enforcement agencies to better assist survivors of sex trafficking and similar groups in supporting their rehabilitation and protection.  Keywords: Human trafficking; <p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="2411-5118",
doi="10.3390/sexes4020017",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sexes4020017"
}