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Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional design was used in this study. Respondents were recruited through respondent driven sampling. Data collectors were required to know at least two individuals currently involved in the commercial sex industry. Individuals over the age of 16 reporting involvement in the commercial sex industry in the past year were eligible for participation. The survey was available on-line and accessed at local public libraries. The initial seeds completed the survey and received five coupons to provide to their peers involved in the commercial sex industry. Peers who took the survey were then paid and received five coupons to provide access to social networks, where respondents continued to distribute coupons to individuals involved in the industry. Multivariate logistic regression mediation analysis was conducted.
Results: The most significant risk factor for being eventually trafficked into the sex trade as a runaway was the engagement in survival sex to meet basic needs. Running away once (OR=7.399 95% CI:3.178-17.299) and running away more than once (OR=8.472 95% CI: 3.663-19.598) was associated with trading sex. The racial category of White (OR= .320, 95% CI: .169-.609) was negatively associated with being sold under the age of 18. Trading sex was associated with being sold under 18 (OR=4.931, 95% CI: 2.086-11.656). Trading sex mediated the relationship between running away once and running away more than once on the outcome of being sold under 18.
Conclusions: While all youth are vulnerable to being trafficked, runaway youth who engage in survival sex are at increased risks for being trafficked before the age of 18. Specialized interventions are needed with this population including screening questions and options for treatment.