Date
Tuesday, October 14, 2025
Time
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Name
Survivors of Sex Trafficking: Reintegrating Into Society
Track
Research and Lived Experience
Description

Background: HST is a highly profitable human rights violation. Survivors of sex trafficking experience serious physical and psychological health consequences. Exiting from trafficking is difficult and recidivism is high. Many survivors of trafficking lack resources as they reintegrate into society. Aim: Explore the experience of female survivors of sex trafficking as they exited trafficking and reintegrated into society utilizing the survivors’ voice. The survivors’ experience with service providers was also explored. Methods: Descriptive qualitative study design was utilized to explore the experience of reintegration into society for survivors of HST. Data was collected through semi-structured, in-depth interviews. The data was analyzed using qualitative content analysis. Results: Survivors’ identified exiting as hard and reintegration as even more difficult. Many questioned whether they had made the right choice. Identified themes included 1). Survivors’ lack of awareness regarding being a victim 2). Exiting is a process 3). Hierarchy of needs 4). Psychological distress of trauma and 5). Survivor empowerment Conclusion: Resources for survivors of trafficking are severely limited. Current research lacks studies that explore and describe successful reintegration from the survivors’ perspective. There is a continued need for human trafficking awareness and trauma training for providers.