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Autonomy and Self-acceptance Among Rescued Female Sex Workers: A Systematic Review on Perceived Well-being
Prakhar Bajpai1, Shivali Sharma1, Krishan Kumar Sony2
1AIBAS, Amity University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Background:
Female sex workers rescued from trafficking or exploitative circumstances experience complex psychological challenges that extend beyond immediate trauma. Their recovery often depends on the restoration of autonomy and the rebuilding of self-acceptance, both of which are closely tied to perceived well-being. Understanding these relationships is essential for designing effective, sustainable rehabilitation programs.
Summary:
This systematic review examined studies exploring autonomy, self-acceptance, and well-being among rescued female sex workers. A comprehensive search across Public/Publisher MEDLINE (PubMed), Psychological Information Database (PsycINFO), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) and Cochrane databases (January 2010-December 2023) identified 23 studies including 2,847 participants from 15 countries. Quality appraisal used the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale for observational studies and the Cochrane Risk of Bias Tool for interventional designs. Findings indicated a strong positive correlation between autonomy development and self-acceptance (r = 0.67, p < 0.001), both of which were associated with higher well-being scores. Key factors influencing psychological recovery included duration of exploitation, age at rescue, access to mental health services, and opportunities for social reintegration.
Key Message:
Restoring autonomy and fostering self-acceptance are central to psychological recovery and long-term well-being among rescued female sex workers. Rehabilitation programs that adopt trauma-informed and culturally sensitive approaches emphasizing empowerment, dignity, and agency demonstrate the most effective outcomes for recovery and reintegration.
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