Experiences of child sex trafficking identification among Ontario pediatric emergency department healthcare providers: A qualitative study

Emergency departments are a key place to identify children being sex trafficked, but many have no formal screening process, and children don’t always recognize that they are being exploited. Interviews with Ontario pediatric emergency department providers found that registered nurses play a central role in identifying these children. Most identified children were white and feminine-presenting, but providers also saw race, poverty, child welfare involvement and adverse childhood experiences combining to heighten vulnerability. Children typically came in with non-specific complaints, injuries, sexual assault or mental health concerns. The authors call for human trafficking training and a trauma- and violence-informed approach that considers patients’ social and clinical indicators together.