Introduction
Child abuse is one of the greatest social problems affecting the world today. It involves any act that harms a minor’s physical or emotional well-being. On the other hand, neglection is the deprivation of a child’s basic needs, including food, clothing, healthcare, shelter, and education. Trafficking is one of the major causes of child abuse and neglect. It involves the illegal procurement and relocation of children with the intention of exploiting them. A study indicates that children constitute a third of all trafficking victims (Ottisova et al., 2018). Minors may be trafficked for various reasons, such as labor or sexual exploitation, organ harvesting, and illegal adoption (Wood, 2020). All children, regardless of gender, age, nationality, and socio-economic factors are at risk of being targeted for this trade. However, war, political instability, poverty, and parental rejection increase the probability of children being trafficked (Wood, 2020). Trafficking exposes minors to physical and mental abuse and deprives them of basic needs.
Impacts of Trafficking on Children
Trafficking poses devastating effects on a child’s physical health, predisposing them to health complications. A significant number of trafficked children are exploited for labor which entails working in factories, agricultural plantations, or as domestic servants (Wood, 2020). As a result, these juveniles may develop severe injuries, which, if left untreated, may adversely affect their physical well-being. In addition, research shows that 24- 56% of the victims of child trafficking are subjected to physical violence (Ottisova et al., 2018). In this case, the traffickers may use beatings to control the minors, resulting in internal injuries, bruises, and fractures. Furthermore, teenagers trafficked for commercial sex exploitation (CSE) experience high incidences of sexual violence. Their physical health is also threatened by unsafe sex, which may result in unwanted pregnancies leading to unsafe abortions. Not to mention, CSE victims may contract sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV/AIDS, which, if left untreated, may result in immune suppression and other health complications (Greenbaum, 2017). Therefore, exposure to environmental hazards, physical violence, and sexual assault negatively affect the physical health of trafficked children.
The victims of trafficking may often suffer severe psychological trauma. Keeping children away from their families may result in mental distress because they may feel unloved or unwanted. Similarly, exposing them to environments characterized by physical assault, sexual abuse, and limited freedom predisposes them to various mental disorders, including depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), and anxiety (Zimmerman & Kiss, 2017). The sexual and physical assaults may make the trafficked children experience feelings of shame and hopelessness, further impacting their emotional well-being. In addition, the negative remarks that the minors receive from their traffickers or pimps can adversely affect their self-worth resulting in low self-esteem and guilt (Wood, 2020). Equally important, experiencing or witnessing verbal, physical, or sexual abuse combined with long-term isolation may lead to cases of self-harm or suicidal ideation among trafficked adolescents (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). Thus, dissociating children from their families and exposing them to environments marred with physical, verbal, and sexual abuse may adversely affect their emotional well-being resulting in severe mental ailments such as depression and PTSD.
Trafficking may lead to the development of substance use disorders among children. Most traffickers, especially those dealing with CSE, use drugs and other substances to maintain control over their victims (Reid et al., 2019). Frequent use of illicit substances results in addiction, making the victims vulnerable to more abuse and unable to escape, resulting in more financial incentives for the traffickers. However, in some cases, some youth may begin using illicit substances as a coping mechanism for their traumatic experiences and harsh realities. Hence, trafficking may expose children to illegal substances whose prolonged use may result in various health complications.
The physical and psychological trauma associated with trafficking may trigger behavioral problems among minors. The dissociation of children from their families and the exposure to intense trauma they are subjected to during and after trafficking may cause the minors to have attachment problems (Wood, 2020). In addition, the verbal, sexual, and physical assault that trafficked juveniles experience from the pimps may result in the mistrust of adults. Moreover, since most victims of trafficking are often isolated, this may lead to anti-social traits and challenges relating to other people. Furthermore, minors involved in CSE may engage in prostitution mainly because they feel worthless and guilty. These adolescents may often think that their lives have been ruined, leading to increased cases of self-harm and suicide ideations (Kiss & Zimmerman, 2019). Therefore, the separation of minors from their families and the trauma they experience from the traffickers predispose them to severe behavioral problems.
How Trafficking Is Connected to Child Abuse and Neglect
Trafficking involves several forms of child abuse that adversely affect their well-being. Research indicates that trafficked minors are subjected to physical assault, sexual abuse, and emotional distress, exposing them to various health complications (Wood, 2020). According to Zimmerman and Kiss (2017), the victims of trafficking experience a lot of violence from their perpetrators resulting in acute injuries, such as lost limbs. The authors also link trafficking to the symptoms of anxiety and depression disorders reported among the victims. These findings are mirrored in the Ottisova et al. (2018) study, which indicates that approximately 21-51% and 24-56% of trafficked minors are subjected to sexual abuse and physical assault, respectively. Exposure to these mistreatments results in mental disorders such as depression and PTSD. Furthermore, Reid et al. (2019) research shows that victims of child trafficking, especially those exploited for sex, record high cases of sexually transmitted infections, physical injuries, and substance use within the healthcare system. Therefore, it is evident that trafficking inflicts a lot of bodily and psychological harm on minors.
In most cases, trafficking deprives children of their basic needs, hindering healthy growth and development. Wood’s (2020) study stresses that trafficked juveniles live in unhygienic environments where they are provided with inadequate food and water, leading to poor health outcomes. Similar findings are drawn from Zimmerman and Kiss’s (2017) research which indicates that trafficked victims are exposed to deplorable living conditions which are unsafe, unhygienic, and overcrowded. They also lack proper nutrition and access to clean water. This proves that trafficking deprives minors of basic hygiene, appropriate clothing, shelter, clean water, and a balanced diet, negatively affecting their developmental process. The authors further suggest that trafficked persons work for extensive hours with low payment. In this case, trafficking denies minors their right to education, resulting in delayed cognitive, language, and memory development. Not to mention, due to the isolation and confinement nature of trafficking, minors may be deprived of critical healthcare services leading to a deterioration in health or death (Zimmerman & Kiss, 2017). Hence, it is apparent that trafficking denies children essential needs, including shelter, proper nutrition, education, and healthcare services resulting in developmental problems.
Child Abuse Prevention
Although trafficking can target minors regardless of age, socio-economic status, or nationality, most traffickers target vulnerable children. This may include teenagers living in poverty or those displaying problem behaviors, such as fleeing home. Such populations can easily be lured with promises of a better life or other rewards. However, due to the clandestine nature of child trafficking, detecting such cases in their earlier stages is challenging. In this case, there is a need to create awareness about the potential markers of trafficking among healthcare providers to enable them to stop child abuse (Greenbaum, 2017). This is because trafficked minors may visit healthcare institutions in the company of traffickers if they become ill. Therefore, healthcare providers should be able to detect the presence of trafficked children and collaborate with law enforcement and other relevant agencies to stop the abuse. In addition, heightened awareness is also required in the criminal justice system to identify the signs of trafficked juveniles and effectively intervene (Reid et al., 2019). Trafficked children have increased chances of being arrested in relation to prostitution, drug use, and pickpocketing. Hence, earlier identification of trafficked victims may prevent further abuse.
Conclusion
In conclusion, trafficking has detrimental effects on a child’s well-being. It exposes minors to physical violence, psychological distress, and sexual abuse. In addition, it deprives children of basic necessities, including shelter, clothing, proper nutrition, clean water, education, and healthcare services. Consequently, these teenagers may suffer injuries and fractures or develop diverse mental health complications, including PTSD and depression. Similarly, the separation from families at a tender age and exposure to an environment characterized by violence may make a minor develop attachment problems, mistrust, and anti-social traits. Healthcare providers are best placed to identify and stop child abuse linked to trafficking.
References
Greenbaum, V. J. (2017). Child sex trafficking in the United States: Challenges for the healthcare provider.PLOS Medicine, 14(11), e1002439.
Kiss, L., & Zimmerman, C. (2019). Human trafficking and labor exploitation: Toward identifying, implementing, and evaluating effective responses.PLOS Medicine, 16(1), e1002740.
Ottisova, L., Smith, P., Shetty, H., Stahl, D., Downs, J., & Oram, S. (2018). Psychological consequences of child trafficking: An historical cohort study of trafficked children in contact with secondary mental health services. PLOS ONE, 13(3), e0192321.
Reid, J. A., Baglivio, M. T., Piquero, A. R., Greenwald, M. A., & Epps, N. (2019). No youth left behind to human trafficking: Exploring profiles of risk. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 89(6), 704–715.
Wood, L. C. (2020). Child modern slavery, trafficking and health: A practical review of factors contributing to children’s vulnerability and the potential impacts of severe exploitation on health. BMJ Paediatrics Open, 4(1), e000327.
Zimmerman, C., & Kiss, L. (2017). Human trafficking and exploitation: A global health concern.PLOS Medicine, 14(11), e1002437.