IMPACT OF SOCIO-ECONOMIC FACTORS ON PROSTITUTION IN ASABA, DELTA STATE, NIGERIA.

ABSTRACT

This study examines impact of socio-economic factors on prostitution in Asaba, Delta State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study were to investigate the influence of previous sexual experience on prostitution, to examine the impact of social and economic conditions on prostitution; to find out the effect of prostitute subculture on prostitution; to ascertain the impact of family disorganization on prostitution and to explore the influence of greediness and competition on prostitution. Respondents were selected from sex workers in Asaba metropolis, Delta State, Nigeria. The data were collected through personal administration of 384 copies of the questionnaire and had valid responses. The study also used frequency distribution, mean, standard deviation, t-test statistics analysis, multi regression analysis and tables as major statistical tools for data analysis and test of hypotheses. The analysis revealed that previous sexual experience has significant influence on prostitution, social and economic conditions have no significant influence on prostitution. Prostitute subculture has no significant influence on prostitution; family disorganization has no significant relationship on prostitution and that greediness and competition has no significant influence on prostitution. Finally, the study recommends that there is need for the practitioners to invest massively on the female child as investing on the female child translates to building the nation and she takes the place of future mother and survival of the country. This will help attracts the attention of females and capture their interest. Also, society should both be proactive to the needs and wants of the female youth so as to discourage prostitution. Finally, social work experts should continue to engage young girls in training and retraining programmes.