title: Aspects of abuse: commercial sexual exploitation of children.
abstract: Commercial sexual exploitation of children (CSEC) and adolescents is a serious worldwide problem. It is, in essence, the sexual abuse of a minor for economic gain. In the United States, there is no uniform nationwide database to capture the incidence and prevalence of CSEC. Therefore, there is a great variation in the estimates, but the actual numbers are unknown. Given the clandestine nature of the practice, it is often underreported and underidentified. Healthcare providers will often encounter victims of commercial sexual exploitation due to mental health, physical health, and sexual health consequences, and therefore should be knowledgeable in the signs of possible sexual exploitation. The aim of this article is to educate healthcare providers on how vulnerable children may become sexually exploited, the health consequences involved with sexual exploitation, how to better identify possible victims, and the medical evaluation of a victim of sexual exploitation.
authors.affiliation: Mayerson Center for Safe and Healthy Children, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, OH.
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jimenez
authors.affiliation: Freddie Mac Foundation Child and Adolescent Protection Center, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC. Electronic address: Amjackso@childrensnational.org.
authors.forename: Allison M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.affiliation: Freddie Mac Foundation Child and Adolescent Protection Center, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC; The George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Deye
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D002651:Child Advocacy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019548:Crime Victims / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011050:Policy Making; D011477:Sex Work / Q000523:psychology*; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology