Background. Human trafficking is an all encompassing term to describe illegal sex trafficking, labor trafficking, and trafficking of children for the profit of others. Many survivors of sex trafficking face physical, cognitive, and psychosocial issues as a result of their experiences. These survivors need support to return to their daily lives. The purpose of this systematic review is to determine the effectiveness of occupation and related interventions in assisting female survivors of sex trafficking to return to their optimal functioning. 

Methods. Electronic databases (CINAHL, PubMed, Medline, Google Scholar, AOTA, AJOT, NCBI) were used to identify studies that examined occupational therapy interventions in human trafficking. Five articles met the inclusion criteria and were included in this review. 

Results. Our findings support the use of occupation-based, mental health, and group therapy interventions in assisting female survivors of sex trafficking. These interventions were shown to have positive effects on community reintegration, occupational participation, and emotional and physical stability.

Conclusion. Overall results support that occupation and related interventions have a positive effect on assisting survivors of sex trafficking in returning to daily functions. The implications for occupational therapists include the certification of TF-CBT in order to better assist this vulnerable population, as well as be able to identify, provide, and refer care using a client-centered, trauma-focused approach. Future research should be conducted using longitudinal studies to better understand the effects of occupation and related interventions over a longer period of time.