Document Type
Poster Session
Department
Social Work
Faculty Mentor
Dorothea Ivey, PhD
Abstract
Substantial literature identifies the prevalence of sex trafficking and the intersection of addiction in the United States and worldwide. Although inconsistent international reporting has made it difficult to define the scope of sex trafficking, it has been found to be a worldwide public health issue. However, there lies a gap in the literature as it pertains to how victims of sex trafficking access treatment. The aim of this study was to better understand what factors facilitate access to treatment for substance use by victims of sex trafficking. A systematic review was undertaken to investigate the study’s overarching research questions. The inclusion criteria used in this review consisted of those that were scholarly and analyzed the experiences of adult female victims of sex trafficking who have accessed treatment for substance use or other related services. 939 studies were found in the initial search and 47 of those were reviewed via their introduction and literature review. 27 of those 47 studies would be reviewed via their full text. After a full-text review was conducted, 3 studies were found to meet inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. The findings of this study may suggest that service providers should evaluate factors that facilitate access to treatment and consider barriers to treatment, which may result in improved mental health outcomes.
Open Access?
1
Experiences of Female Sex Trafficking Survivors who have Accessed Treatment for Substance Use: A Systematic Review
Substantial literature identifies the prevalence of sex trafficking and the intersection of addiction in the United States and worldwide. Although inconsistent international reporting has made it difficult to define the scope of sex trafficking, it has been found to be a worldwide public health issue. However, there lies a gap in the literature as it pertains to how victims of sex trafficking access treatment. The aim of this study was to better understand what factors facilitate access to treatment for substance use by victims of sex trafficking. A systematic review was undertaken to investigate the study’s overarching research questions. The inclusion criteria used in this review consisted of those that were scholarly and analyzed the experiences of adult female victims of sex trafficking who have accessed treatment for substance use or other related services. 939 studies were found in the initial search and 47 of those were reviewed via their introduction and literature review. 27 of those 47 studies would be reviewed via their full text. After a full-text review was conducted, 3 studies were found to meet inclusion criteria and were included in this systematic review. The findings of this study may suggest that service providers should evaluate factors that facilitate access to treatment and consider barriers to treatment, which may result in improved mental health outcomes.
