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Biography

Cadena Carmargo, Yazmín María Lucila. Professor for the School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Family doctor with a master’s degree in public health from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Israel. She holds a PhD in Health Anthropology and Global Health from Maastricht University in the Netherlands. E-mail: yazmin.cadena@javeriana.edu.co, Address: Carrera 7 # 40-62.

Mondragón Moreno, Izara Maité. Co-investigator. School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Physician-Psychiatrist. Studies in Universidad Nacional de Colombia. Work in migrants’ mental health projects, eating disorders programs, and in current studies for sleep medicine. E-mail: i.mondragon@javeriana.edu.co

Osorio Jaramillo, Isabella. Sociologist and Co-investigator. School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana.

Suárez Álvarez, Paula Angélica. Co-investigator. School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Physician and Resident in Pediatrics in the same institution.

Duarte Osorio, Andrés. Family doctor and Co-investigator. School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. Hospital Universitario San Ignacio.

Gómez-Restrepo, Carlos. Co-investigator. Physician-Psychiatrist. Dean, Professor, and Researcher of the School of Medicine, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana. MSc in Clinical Epidemiology. Specialist in Liaison Psychiatry. PhD (c) in Public Health. Psychoanalyst and Director of the Journal of the Colombian Society of Psychoanalysis. Hospital Universitario San Ignacio.

Abstract

This paper explores the multifaceted experiences of Venezuelan migrant women engaged in prostitution, framed through three critical moments: the “decision to enter in prostitution,” the unique abuses faced, and the resultant consequences on mental, physical, and social health. The study highlights how socioeconomic vulnerabilities—exacerbated by migration and poverty—significantly influence the likelihood of entering prostitution. It also shows how traumatic experiences, particularly in childhood and adolescence, coupled with a lack of support networks, contribute to a heightened risk of exploitation. Eleven life stories were collected through a phenomenological approach, revealing a common narrative of abuse, poverty, and the search for survival in a foreign country. The findings underscore that prostitution is not merely a personal choice, but a complex phenomenon shaped by structural inequalities and systemic violence. Overall, the research highlights the urgent need for comprehensive support systems to aid these women in overcoming the profound challenges they face, both during and after their involvement in prostitution.

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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License

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