Citation

Cockbain E, Ashby M, Brayley H. Sex. Abuse 2015; 29(7): 658-684.

Affiliation

University College London, England.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2015, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1079063215616817

PMID

26634379

Abstract

Child sexual exploitation is increasingly recognized nationally and internationally as a pressing child protection, crime prevention, and public health issue. In the United Kingdom, for example, a recent series of high-profile cases has fueled pressure on policy makers and practitioners to improve responses. Yet, prevailing discourse, research, and interventions around child sexual exploitation have focused overwhelmingly on female victims. This study was designed to help redress fundamental knowledge gaps around boys affected by sexual exploitation. This was achieved through rigorous quantitative analysis of individual-level data for 9,042 users of child sexual exploitation services in the United Kingdom. One third of the sample were boys, and gender was associated with statistically significant differences on many variables. The results of this exploratory study highlight the need for further targeted research and more nuanced and inclusive counter-strategies.

Keywords: Human trafficking

Language: en