Department of Public Health, Section of Health Research Services, Copenhagen University, Copenhagen, Denmark.
The Heilbrunn Department of Population and Family Health, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York City, New York, United States of America.
PLoS One. 2021 Jun 16;16(6):e0252606. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0252606. eCollection 2021.
Sex trafficking, a form of human trafficking for the purpose of commercial sexual exploitation, with a global prevalence of 4.5 million, has pervasive effects in the mental and physical health of survivors. However, little is known about the experiences and needs of Latinx migrants (the majority of sex trafficking victims in the US) after trafficking, particularly regarding parenting. This QUAL-quant study examines how 14 survivors of sex trafficking (mean age = 30) from Mexico and Central America encounter and respond to parenting experiences after escaping sexual exploitation. Combining a bio-ecological model of parenting with Zimmerman's framework on human trafficking we identified how trauma related to sex trafficking can challenge parenting and how relational and contextual pre and post trafficking factors (dis)enable women to respond to such challenges. Psychological consequences of daily victimization primarily manifested in three ways: overprotective parenting in a world perceived to be unsafe, emotional withdraw when struggling with stress and mental health symptoms, and challenges building confidence as mothers. These experiences were accentuated by pre-trafficking experiences of neglect and abuse, forced separation from their older children, poverty post-trafficking, and migration-related stressors. Yet, finding meaning in the birth of their child, having social support, and faith, also enable mothers to cope with such challenges. We conclude that motherhood after surviving sex trafficking presents new challenges and opportunities in the path to recovery from trauma. Interventions at the policy, community and individual level are needed to support survivors of sex trafficking as they enter motherhood.
性交易是一种以人为目的的贩卖形式，用于商业性剥削，全球有 450 万人受到影响，对幸存者的身心健康产生了普遍影响。然而，对于拉丁裔移民（美国性交易受害者的大多数）在被贩卖后的经历和需求知之甚少，特别是在育儿方面。这项 QUAL 定量研究考察了 14 名来自墨西哥和中美洲的性交易幸存者（平均年龄=30 岁）在逃离性剥削后如何遇到和应对育儿经历。我们将育儿的生物生态学模型与 Zimmerman 的人口贩卖框架相结合，确定与性交易相关的创伤如何挑战育儿，以及贩卖前后的关系和背景因素（是否）使妇女能够应对这些挑战。日常受害的心理后果主要表现在以下三个方面：在一个被认为不安全的世界中过度保护孩子，在与压力和心理健康症状作斗争时情绪退缩，以及在作为母亲时建立信心的挑战。这些经历因贩卖前的忽视和虐待、被迫与年长的孩子分离、贩卖后的贫困以及与移民相关的压力而加剧。然而，在孩子出生时找到意义、获得社会支持和信仰，也使母亲能够应对这些挑战。我们的结论是，性交易幸存者在从创伤中恢复的道路上，成为母亲后会带来新的挑战和机遇。需要在政策、社区和个人层面采取干预措施，为性交易幸存者提供支持，帮助他们进入母亲的角色。
