Child prostitution in Bahir Dar
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Date
1998-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In Ethiopia, very little is known about prostitution In general and about child
prostitution in particular. The purpose of this research is to determine the magnitude
of child prostitution and to identify factors associated with and problems of child
prostitution. A cross-sectional study design was utili zed. Data were collected using
structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis was done using Epi Info version
6 stati stical software. A total of 650 commercial sex workers were interviewed.
Eighty eight (13.5%) were below the age of 18 years at the time of data collection
and 268(41.2%) at the time of joining prostitution. Poverty, disagreement with
family and peer influence were the major reasons reported for prostitution. Child
prostitutes were more likely to have STDs than adult prostitutes [OR= 1. 68; (95%
C.l.) 0.95,2.96]. Condom use was poor among child prostitutes compared LO adult
prostitutes [OR=1.67; (95%C.I.) 0.97,2.87]. Child prostitutes were iikely to be
victim of physical violence [OR= 1.93; (95% C.l.) l.l 8, 3.15] and sexual violence
[OR=2.20; (95% C.l.) 1.36,3.35] compared to adult prostitutes. More child
prostitutes observed having the ambition to rejoin their family. It is recommended
that strategies need to be developed to rescue child prostitutes from on-job violence,
to minimize entry in prostitution and to establish a rehabilitation program for those
interested to discontinue prostitution. Further study is required to more deeply
understand the cause and effect of child prostitution
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Keywords
Child prostitution