The meta-analysis show that women and girls who are trafficked for sexual exploitation suffer from significantly higher rates of serious mental and physical health problems, including abdominal and back pain, headaches, memory problems, depression, anxiety, and PTSD. The negative health consequences tend to increase the longer the women and girls are sexually exploited.
The study also highlights the need for health intervention strategies and additional research and data on the health consequences of trafficking men, boys, and other individuals for labor or non-sexual forms of exploitation.