UNDERSTANDING YOUNG-PEOPLE AND PROSTITUTION - A FOUNDATION FOR PRACTICE

The practice and research literature on young people and prostitution reflects a number of methodological challenges. This paper offers a fo cused review of the literature in the context of those challenges and attempts to draw conclusions that are strong enough to provide a refle ctive and strategic approach to service planning and implementation. D efinitional issues are discussed, particularly in relation to estimate s of prevalence. The robustness of past research designs and associate d causal inferences are questioned and a synthesis of current explanat ory accounts is offered. Risk in relation to prostitution is explored. Past service responses are examined and a rationale for future respon ses is developed.