Vol 23, 2014 Annals of Health Law 69
HEALTH CONSEQUENCES OF SEX TRAFFICKING
were rampant, with nearly 70% of victims reported physical injuries, most
commonly to the head or face. Symptoms not conventionally associated
with sexual abuse were only slightly less common: 67.9% of respondents
experienced some type of cardiovascular or respiratory difficulty and 61.3%
suffered from gastrointestinal symptoms while being trafficked. More than
half of the survivors ( 54.3%) reported dental problems, with tooth loss the
most common problem ( 42.9%). The only major health category in which
less than half of respondents reported a symptom was dermatological
issues, which were nonetheless reported by 27.4% of respondents. This
study’s findings of widespread physical health consequences are generally
consistent with the results of previous domestic studies and build on their
findings by revealing a more comprehensive picture of the health issues that
plague trafficking victims. 25
Table 1. Physical Health Problems
Category of respondents reporting at least one symptom26
Any Physical Health Problem 99.1% (N= 106)
Neurological 91.7% (N= 106)
General Health 86.0% (N= 105)
Injuries 69.2% (N= 102)
Cardiovascular/Respiratory 68.5% (N= 106)
Gastrointestinal 62.0% (N= 106)
Dental 54.3% (N= 105)
B. Psychological Symptoms
“The mental health problems are the worst and most long lasting. I was
diagnosed with chronic depression, have anxiety, post-traumatic stress
syndrome, nightmares, flashbacks, disorientation. I’ve been suicidal at
25. See, e.g., FARLEY ET AL, PROSTITUTION RESEARCH, supra note 14, at 29-30, 31;
RAYMOND & HUGHES, supra note 9, at 79.
26. The small differences in the number of respondents are due to some subjects electing
to fill out some portions of the questionnaire but not others. Judgment occasionally had to be
exercised by coders as to whether a given victim had not answered a section or had indicated
not experiencing any of the symptoms. However, such judgment was required on only a
small minority of surveys and was made with a presumption against selective completion of
the questionnaire.
