Factors influencing to early initiation of sex work among female street sex workers in Jimma and Agaro Towns, Southwest Ethiopia.

Early initiation of street sex work refers to the exchange of sexual services for money or drugs, which occurs when sex workers solicit customers in public street areas before turning 18 years old. The study explores the early initiation of risky street sex behaviors among female street sex workers in two towns in southwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 219 female street sex workers in Jimma and Agaro towns. Data was collected through face-to-face interviews in five key population clinics (KPCs) from April 15 to September 15, 2024, and analyzed using SPSS version 25. The Variables with a p-value of less than 0.05 were considered significant. This study revealed that more than half of teenage girls were 54.2% (110), were engaged in early street sex work. Being illiterate, having illiterate parents, migration, a history of rural residence, and substance use were factors significantly associated with early street sex work initiation. Encourage and assist the less educated participants to finish their education, stop migrating by strongly penalizing misbrokers, and educate the young girls about the negative effects of various forms of substance usage.