The victimization of juvenile prostitutes in Ethiopia

This article quantifies the victimization experienced by 30 juvenile prostitutes in Addis Ababa. Of these, 73 percent had been raped at least once and 93 percent had been beaten in the course of their work. Only 50 percent used contraception, resulting in a pregnancy rate of 37 percent. Findings indicate that prostitution is a lifestyle highly conducive to victimization, fostered by conditions of extreme deprivation. Policy and practice implications are discussed.