Recognizing and responding to human trafficking in clinical care environments: A pediatric primary care case study

Human trafficking is a proliferating abuse within the United States in which persons who are victimized frequently interface with clinical environments across the care continuum with a variety of presentations for health needs. However, in the absence of uniform standards for evidence-based training among the health professions, recognition and response in these scenarios remains low. This case study presents a young adolescent female accessing primary care with a chief complaint of commercial sexual exploitation. The Core Competencies for Human Trafficking Response in Health Systems is used as a guiding lens for practical applications in clinical practice in provision of pediatric primary care. Health care providers in a direct service role should be prepared to respond with evidence-based, trauma-informed, culturally responsive procedures and protocols used within their scope of practice.