American Journal of Public Health
Volume 108, Issue 8, 2018, Pages 1049-1054

Childhood experiences of sexual violence, pregnancy, and marriage associated with child sex trafficking among female sex workers in two US–Mexico border cities (Article)

Boyce S.C.* , Brouwer K.C. , Triplett D. , Servin A.E. , Magis-Rodriguez C. , Silverman J.G.
  • a Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
  • b School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, United States
  • c Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
  • d Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States
  • e National Center for the Prevention and Control of HIV/AIDS, Ministry of Health, Mexico City, Mexico
  • f Center on Gender Equity and Health, School of Medicine, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, United States

Abstract

Objectives. To quantitatively assess the relationships of childhood experiences of marriage, pregnancy, and sexual violence with underage sex trafficking. Methods. Cross-sectional survey data from a population-based sample of 603 female sex workers from Tijuana and Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, were collected in 2013 and 2014, and we analyzed the data to evaluate relationships between pregnancy, marriage, and sexual violence when younger than 16 years, and child sex trafficking. Results. Adjusted odds of child sex trafficking among those who experienced pregnancy, marriage, and childhood sexual violence when younger than 16 years in combined models were 2.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.8, 4.3), 1.7 (95% CI = 0.99, 2.8), and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.01, 3.0), respectively, relative to others (n = 603). For 89.8%, 78.0%, and 97.0% of those who had an experience of pregnancy (n = 69), marriage (n = 50), or sexual violence (n = 33) when younger than 16 years, respectively, the experience occurred before or the same year as sex trafficking. Conclusions. These results provide empirical evidence of modifiable risk factors for child sex trafficking that could be integrated into the prevention efforts and protocols of health clinics and governmental agencies in Mexico currently working to reduce underage pregnancy, marriage, and sexual violence. © 2018 American Public Health Association Inc. All rights reserved.

Author Keywords

[No Keywords available]

Index Keywords

Child Abuse, Sexual human epidemiology statistics and numerical data Mexico sex worker sex trafficking Cross-Sectional Studies childhood United States Young Adult marriage cross-sectional study Humans Adolescent female risk factor pregnancy child sexual abuse human trafficking Article city major clinical study adult Sex Workers Child
Link
https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85050213210&doi=10.2105%2fAJPH.2018.304455&partnerID=40&md5=876daa1aff9aa9c813cb0da1abf637cd
DOI: 10.2105/AJPH.2018.304455
ISSN: 00900036
Cited by: 1
Original Language: English