A pilot study on the knowledge of sex- trafficking in the United States among a sample of college students at a university in North- East Tennessee.
Location
Ballroom
Start Date
4-5-2018 8:00 AM
End Date
4-5-2018 12:00 PM
Poster Number
62
Name of Project's Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Mildred Maisonet
Faculty Sponsor's Department
Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, College of Public Health, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN 37614
Type
Poster: Competitive
Project's Category
Social and Behavioral Sciences
Abstract or Artist's Statement
Introduction
Sex- trafficking is a disturbing reality occurring in the United States, which calls for immediate action, before it becomes an epidemic, difficult to contain. Major constraints like, misidentification of the victims, lack of awareness, measures of estimate which do not include adult trafficking and improper tracking protocols, make actual prevalence rates difficult to estimate, however, the closest estimate provided by Esteis and Weiner, is that between 244,000 and 325,000 youth in America are at risk of sexual exploitation. According to the National Juvenile Arrest Data (2003), 1400 youth were arrested nationwide, for prostitution and commercial sex crimes, and these numbers increased 31% between 1994 and 2003. According to the 2015 annual report of National Human Trafficking Resource center, it received 24,757 signals nationwide, of which 555 (2.5%) were from students. 74.6% of the cases reported were of sex trafficking. Studies by Reid (2010) and later Farrel et al (2012), have revealed that most often, internet has been used as a victim solicitation tool. The aim of this study is to explore the college students’ perception of the prevalence of sex trafficking in the United States and understanding of the training, if any, received by them, including the cautious use of the internet.
Method
A convenience sample of college students (N=353), completed self-reported questionnaires via the REDCAP survey platform, using the ETSU SONA system. Questions were asked to assess their awareness about sex trafficking in the United States, any training received to protect themselves, from being ensnared by the traffickers. A descriptive analysis of the survey results was employed to further explore college students’ understanding of sex trafficking.
Results
76% (N=268) of the respondents said that sex trafficking is a problem in the United States, 24% (N=85), view it is as not being a problem in the United States. 95% (N=334) had not received any training to protect themselves from being trafficked, of which only 5.26% (N=1), had been told about the safe use of internet. 3.6%(N=13), respondents have reported, that they know someone who has been approached for sex trafficking.
Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that, students are aware that sex trafficking might be a problem in the United States, and some participants indicated that they know someone who has been approached. Preliminary analysis shows that a greater awareness, and knowledge about sex trafficking is needed, and future research may be indicated with the focus on individuals, who are at risk of being trafficked, with the goal of identifying interventions for, at-risk populations.
A pilot study on the knowledge of sex- trafficking in the United States among a sample of college students at a university in North- East Tennessee.
Ballroom
Introduction
Sex- trafficking is a disturbing reality occurring in the United States, which calls for immediate action, before it becomes an epidemic, difficult to contain. Major constraints like, misidentification of the victims, lack of awareness, measures of estimate which do not include adult trafficking and improper tracking protocols, make actual prevalence rates difficult to estimate, however, the closest estimate provided by Esteis and Weiner, is that between 244,000 and 325,000 youth in America are at risk of sexual exploitation. According to the National Juvenile Arrest Data (2003), 1400 youth were arrested nationwide, for prostitution and commercial sex crimes, and these numbers increased 31% between 1994 and 2003. According to the 2015 annual report of National Human Trafficking Resource center, it received 24,757 signals nationwide, of which 555 (2.5%) were from students. 74.6% of the cases reported were of sex trafficking. Studies by Reid (2010) and later Farrel et al (2012), have revealed that most often, internet has been used as a victim solicitation tool. The aim of this study is to explore the college students’ perception of the prevalence of sex trafficking in the United States and understanding of the training, if any, received by them, including the cautious use of the internet.
Method
A convenience sample of college students (N=353), completed self-reported questionnaires via the REDCAP survey platform, using the ETSU SONA system. Questions were asked to assess their awareness about sex trafficking in the United States, any training received to protect themselves, from being ensnared by the traffickers. A descriptive analysis of the survey results was employed to further explore college students’ understanding of sex trafficking.
Results
76% (N=268) of the respondents said that sex trafficking is a problem in the United States, 24% (N=85), view it is as not being a problem in the United States. 95% (N=334) had not received any training to protect themselves from being trafficked, of which only 5.26% (N=1), had been told about the safe use of internet. 3.6%(N=13), respondents have reported, that they know someone who has been approached for sex trafficking.
Conclusion
The findings of this study suggest that, students are aware that sex trafficking might be a problem in the United States, and some participants indicated that they know someone who has been approached. Preliminary analysis shows that a greater awareness, and knowledge about sex trafficking is needed, and future research may be indicated with the focus on individuals, who are at risk of being trafficked, with the goal of identifying interventions for, at-risk populations.