Commercial sex work among girls aged 10-24 is common in two wards in Tanzania due to high poverty rates and lack of education and livelihood opportunities. A 2003 study found 67% of sex workers in the area were girls in this age group. Their clients are often businessmen and in a day a girl may have sex with up to 11 men without condoms. Many girls contract STIs like HIV and have multiple abortions. Efforts by the government and NGOs aim to provide sexual health education, livelihood training, and peer support to reduce risks for young sex workers.

1. COMMERCIAL SEX WORK AMONG GIRLS
AGED 10-24 YEARS OLD IN BUGURUNI AND
VINGUNGUTI WARDS IN ILALA MUNICIPAL,
DAR ES SALAAM, TANZANIA
Presented by
ROBERT BERNARD NGONGI
ST. CAMILLIUS YOUTH THEATRE GROUP

2. BACKGROUND
• Vingunguti and Buguruni are wards within Ilala municipal in the City
of Dar es salaam, where people have very low standard of living.
• According to a study conducted by Ilala Municipal Council in 2003,
67% of sex workers living in this area are girls aged 10-24
• The main customers for these young sex workers are business men selling
goat and cows.
• Money earned is mainly used by families to meet basic needs.
• In one day, a young sex worker can sleep with as many as 11 men, and
condoms are not always used.
• In a single act a girl can earn between 700-1,000 Tsh (36-52 Ksh)

3. BACKGROUND (cont.)
• A significant percent of young sex workers are already infected with
STIs including HIV/AIDS.
• Abortion rates are also very high, about 40% of young sex workers
have aborted, with an average of 4 abortions per girl.
• Many girls aged 13-17 are already mothers. Early motherhood not
only expose them to delivery complications but can also prohibit them
from finishing school.

4. WHY DO YOUNG GIRLS
ENGAGE IN SEX WORK?
Poverty: Families depend on them to help
to meet their basic needs
Lack of Education: Leading to lack of
knowledge, confidence and skills to protect
oneself.
Lack of Health Information: Including
reproductive health knowledge, awareness
of services, contraception, etc.

5. Lack of Livelihoods: Few opportunities for
young girls to engage in income generating
activities.
Lack of Communication: Both between parents
and youth especially regarding issues of
reproductive health, for example body changes
during puberty.
Lack of Life Skills: These would help young girls in
their decision making, assertiveness, and other
critical skills.
(Cont.)

6. EFFORTS TO REDUCE THE
RISK
Both the Government of Tanzania as well as
Non-Governmental Organizations have
developed programs targeted at young sex
workers. These include:
– The provision of sexual reproductive health
education to enable them to protect themselves
– Livelihoods projects to enable them to earn
money to meet their basic needs.

7. Example: St. Camillus Youth
Theatre Group
• Conducted focus group discussion with
young sex workers
• Provided life skills trainings to 20 young
sex workers
• Involve young sex workers in peer
education activities

8. LESSON LEARNT
• Promoting communication between parents
and children is an effective way to support
healthy behaviour
• Livelihood projects are needed in order to
support youth life goals
• Involvement of vulnerable groups is
essential component in programming

9. RECOMMENDATIONS
• Apart from the efforts done, more support is
required to enable them in the provision of
education based on Sexual Reproductive
Health and entrepreneurship.
• Programmes should comprehensively
address men by giving them education,
skills and motivation
• Programmes should holistically address
issues of livelihood, life skills, HIV/AIDS
knowledge and available services

10. Thank you very much