Prevention of Commercial Sexual Exploitation of Children: A Pediatric Healthcare Crisis

Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) is a global public health crisis. CSEC is defined as the use of a child under the age of 18 years in a range of crimes and activities involving the sexual abuse or exploitation of the child for the financial benefit of any person or in exchange for anything of value given or received by any person. CSEC is a problem of epidemic proportions throughout the world including the United States. It is difficult to determine the true number of CSEC victims in the United States. However, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children states that, in 2021, more than 17,200 reports of child sex trafficking were received from all 50 U.S. states and estimates that of the 25,000 children reported missing, one in six were likely victims of sex trafficking. CSEC can result in significant physical and mental health consequences for victims, even death. Studies indicate that CSEC victims are consumers of healthcare. Up to this point, the focus of healthcare related to CSEC has primarily been upon recognizing red flags that should raise CSEC concerns and the identification of victims. Although victim identification is critical, it is time for forensic nurses to understand their role in the prevention of CSEC. This narrative review will discuss the prevention of CSEC using a multitiered healthcare approach.