State-Level Structural Determinants of Multiple Human Trafficking Types and Their Strength of Evidence: A Global Systematic Literature Review

Human trafficking is a global public health problem with negative, wide-ranging effects on individuals, families, and communities. Understanding the structural determinants that influence human trafficking (HT) is imperative to preventing its occurrence. This systematic review identified and summarized existing global literature on State-level structural determinants (SSDs) for HT. We identified peer-reviewed studies from a search conducted in PubMed and gray literature from a United Nations repository. Eligible publications were written in English, included HT victimization as a primary or secondary outcome of interest, and either empirically demonstrated or hypothesized an association between at least one SSD and HT victimization. Hypothesized associations had to be rooted in empirical, practice-based, or theoretical evidence. Forty-eight publications were eligible and presented evidence for the linkage between SSDs and one or more HT types—child marriage, child conscription, organ trafficking, labor trafficking, sex trafficking, and HT generally. Data were derived from six out of the eight UN Sustainable Development Goal regions. The SSDs were thematically grouped into structural determinant families (SDFs) to facilitate comparative analysis. Interestingly, we found that some SDFs were common among various HT types, including the importance of multilateral agreements and coordination for anti-trafficking and the incorporation of regional treaties, conventions, or declarations for human trafficking within local State legislation. These findings highlight the importance of establishing a clear framework for implementing anti-HT laws both within and outside of the State. Future interventions should consider prioritizing shared SDFs to mitigate multiple forms of HT. Additional research, policy, and practice implications are discussed.