Abstract
<title>Abstract</title> <p>Background Child slavery and trafficking are global public health concerns that pose profound risks to life-course health and development. As the ultimate denial of children's human rights, slavery affects not only the child but also their family and entire community. Poverty, family pressure, conflict, economic shifts, and weak law enforcement are key drivers of trafficking and enslavement. Children are trafficked for exploitation across various informal sectors. Easily controlled through violence and intimidation, children in exploitative environments experience multiple forms of abuse that severely disrupt their well-being, dignity, and development. Methods and study approach: This study employed an interpretive phenomenological analysis approach. Researchers purposefully selected 12 enslaved and trafficked children from three police stations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Data were collected using life history and in-depth interview techniques to explore survivors' lived experiences and feelings throughout the trafficking journey. The study population comprised rescued children awaiting family reintegration or alternative exit strategies. Data was analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results The findings indicated that children were trafficked and enslaved due to intersectional pre-departure vulnerabilities, including household poverty, family pressure, parental discord, false promises, and negative social norms. These complex and multifaceted challenges exposed children to trafficker control over movement, communication, and destination, as well as language and cultural disorientation, and engagement in exploitative work. During the slavery experience, children suffered multiple forms of abuse and exploitation, which severely affected their physical, psychosocial, and spiritual health. Thus, they lived in fear of stigma and discrimination by family and community members, experienced long-term health impacts of exploitation, and applied various coping mechanisms in the post-slavery life. Conclusion Trafficked and enslaved children in Ethiopia face profound, intersectional abuse and exploitation. Understanding their lived trafficking journey is essential for developing survivor-centered, trauma-informed interventions that address long-term well-being and break cycles of exploitation.</p>