142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition

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Online posts of men who buy sex with women: A mixed methods analysis of the USA Sex Guide

142nd APHA Annual Meeting and Exposition (November 15 - November 19, 2014): http://www.apha.org/events-and-meetings/annual
Monday, November 17, 2014

Dawn Bounds, MSN, PMHNP-BC , College of Nursing, Dept of Community, Systems, Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
Keren Roberts, BA , College of Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
Wrenetha Julion, PhD, MPH, RN, FAAN , Women, Children & Family Nursing, Rush University College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Kathleen Delaney, PhD, PMH-NP, FAAN , Department of Community, Mental Health and Systems, Rush College of Nursing, Chicago, IL
Susan Breitenstein, PhD, PMHCNS-BC , College of Nursing, Dept of Community, Systems, Mental Health Nursing, Rush University, Chicago, IL
  
Approximately 300,000 youth are at risk of being sexually exploited in the United States each year.  The commercial sexual exploitation of children is defined as any sexual act performed by a minor for an adult in exchange for anything of value. Studies conducted in Chicago, identify as many as 16,000 girls and women engaged in prostitution, with many having engaged in prostitution before the age of 15. 

The internet plays an integral role in sex trafficking that has yet to be fully examined or understood.  Three out of 4 victims are trafficked online. In a Chicago study with men who buy sex, over 1/3 reported using the internet to buy sex. In addition, the USA Sex Guide, a large free website used to educate men on how to buy sex with women, serves as a training ground.  Over 800 men visit the USA Sex Guide at any given moment.  The anonymity that is provided by the internet allows men to read and post explicit descriptions of sexual exploitation and violence without fear of repercussions.

Until recently, men who buy sex with women have remained invisible to researchers, policy makers, and law enforcement.  The purpose of this research study is to focus on the attitudes/demand that perpetuates prostitution. A mixed methods analysis of the postings of Illinois men who frequent the USA Sex Guide will be studied for attitudes and thoughts about youth; awareness of vulnerability, and behavior towards females.  In this presentation, the study methodology and findings will be presented.

Learning Areas:

Public health or related research
Social and behavioral sciences

Learning Objectives:
Describe how the internet facilitates the commercial sexual exploitation of young women. Identify attitudes, choices, and behaviors of men who use the USA Sex Guide.

Keyword(s): Sex Workers, Internet

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have worked as a psychiatric-mental health nurse for over 14 years, with almost 10 years as an advanced practice nurse. I have experience in a variety of settings including inpatient psychiatry, school-based health, and juvenile justice. I am an instructor at Rush University, currently pursuing my PhD, and a SAMHSA minority fellow. My research interests include the commercial sexual exploitation of children and mixed methods research.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 3081.0: All forms of violence against women