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Abstract
Parent-child separation is a global phenomenon and the number of children separated from their parents is increasing rapidly. However, the scope of the problem remains largely unsubstantiated. While literature suggests a link between parent-child separation and children's vulnerability to trafficking, empirical evidence supporting this claim remains limited. Studies have indicated that separation from one or both parents during childhood can have lasting negative effects on a child's long-term health and well-being. This dissertation explores the relationship between parent-child separation and trafficking vulnerability of children. It also examines the impact of multilevel factors on trafficking vulnerability among children who have experienced parent-child separation. The dissertation consists of three individual studies, each employing a different methodology: a conceptual framework (literature review), a quantitative study (logistic regression), and a qualitative study (in-depth interviews). The conceptual framework study applies the Social-Ecological Model to examine vulnerability to child trafficking and explains how parent-child separation fits within this model. The quantitative study utilizes bivariate and multivariate analyses to assess how parent-child separation, along with environmental and individual-level factors, increases vulnerability to child trafficking. It also examines the prevalence of trafficking among children who have experienced parent-child separation compared to those who have not. The qualitative study explores the perceptions and experiences of child trafficking survivors and parents or guardians of survivors regarding the influence of family, cultural, and social challenges on parent-child separation and children's vulnerability to trafficking. The conceptual framework study establishes theoretical connections linking separation to an increased risk of child trafficking at each level of the Social-Ecological Model. The findings of the quantitative study reveal that the prevalence of trafficking is significantly lower among children who have not experienced parent-child separation compared to those who have. Additionally, the quantitative study identifies predictors of both parent-child separation and child trafficking. The qualitative study suggests that several community and societal level factors influence both parent-child separation and child trafficking. Each study includes a discussion of implications for policy, research, and practice, including considerations for the theoretical framework. The dissertation concludes with a final chapter that summarizes the findings and provides implications for social work practice.