Child Trafficking Victims in Pediatric Surgical Environments

Abstract

Human trafficking is a global human rights violation and emerging public health emergency. Child trafficking (CT), in particular, is both understudied and underreported. Despite the demonstrated need for skilled and knowledgeable health professional interventions, awareness across the continuum of care environments remains low. There is virtually no published scientific nursing literature exploring incidence and impact of CT specifically presenting in surgical settings, although survivor reports indicate an urgent and pressing need for it as victims may be hiding in plain sight within care environments. The purpose of this article is not to provide an exhaustive overview of the definitions, etiology, or means and purposes of CT but to draw attention of pediatric surgical nurses (PSNs) to consider how victims may be presenting for surgical care. PSNs need increased education, awareness, and tools to competently advocate for effective policy development and prioritized research efforts. PSNs should coordinate evidence-based, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive clinical actions in pediatric surgical care environments.

Clinical Issues — August 2024

“…Perioperative RNs may administer pediatric human trafficking screenings in the perioperative setting using a validated screening tool in accordance with their health care organization's policies and procedures. Children who are experiencing or at risk for trafficking can present in any care environment, and the use of screening tools can help improve recognition among health care personnel 1,2 . Perioperative RNs require education in effective identification and response to potential human trafficking victims to competently advocate for policy development and provide a coordinated, trauma‐informed, culturally sensitive clinical response within their scope of practice in the perioperative environment 2 .…”

“…Children who are experiencing or at risk for trafficking can present in any care environment, and the use of screening tools can help improve recognition among health care personnel 1,2 . Perioperative RNs require education in effective identification and response to potential human trafficking victims to competently advocate for policy development and provide a coordinated, trauma‐informed, culturally sensitive clinical response within their scope of practice in the perioperative environment 2 . Nurses are also mandatory reporters for suspected abuse or neglect of minors, which includes human trafficking, and must follow state laws and organizational policies and procedures for reporting human trafficking 3 …”

Youth survivor perspectives on healthcare and sex trafficking

“…The medical presentation of trafficking survivors will likely not be obvious to healthcare professionals, including nurses. In addition, healthcare professionals are not immune to the often mythical or stereotyped portrayal of human trafficking in the popular media (Peck, 2020). Inaccurate depictions of trafficking, including the use of sensationalized images depicting trafficking as hypersexualized or the use of chains or handcuffs, further increase barriers to identification.…”

“…Inaccurate depictions of trafficking, including the use of sensationalized images depicting trafficking as hypersexualized or the use of chains or handcuffs, further increase barriers to identification. HCPs who are not educated on the complexities of human trafficking may unknowingly be looking only for the media representation of a trafficked child or adolescent (Peck, 2020). Another common misconception is that trafficking mainly involves foreign nationals.…”