'Most hookers from 2 parent families'

'Most hookers from 2 parent families'

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: The local office of the Indonesian Planned Parenthood Association (PKBI) has conducted a survey of 75 girl prostitutes and come up with a result that 68 percent of them are from respectable families.

Director of PKBI East Kalimantan chapter, Sumadi Atmodiharjo, said here on Wednesday that the result was shocking as it was contrary to the popular belief that girl prostitutes come from broken families.

The survey was conducted in October and November this year and involved close monitoring of girl prostitutes aged between 14 and 20 at pubs, cafes in Mahakam's river bank areas and nightspots in Pinang Babaris.

The survey also shows that some of the girl prostitutes operate during the day, in order not to arouse the suspicions of their families.

These young girls have turned into sex workers for a variety of reasons. Some of them had already had sex with their boyfriends but were later abandoned. Others had taken to prostitution, either of their own accord or because of economic reasons. Other reasons included following their friends or being deceived before falling into a trap.

About half of them knew nothing about sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS and almost 60 percent of them enjoy the job, Sumadi said, adding that a further survey would be conducted to find the best way to guide them away from prostitution. --Antara