'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