Table 2.

Entry into sex work by age first sold sex: initial reasons and relationship (n = 250)

	Age first sold sex
	< 18	≥ 18	p value
	n = 53	n = 197
Reasons for entering sex work
Coercion/force/fraud/tricked	11 (20.8)	9 (4.6)	< 0.001
Get drugs	36 (67.9)	147 (74.6)	0.33
Basic necessities	21 (39.6)	68 (34.5)	0.49
Extra spending money	15 (28.3)	28 (14.2)	0.02
Support my children or family members	10 (18.9)	33 (16.8)	0.72
Pay off debt	5 (9.4)	19 (9.6)	0.96
No other job opportunities	5 (9.4)	31 (15.7)	0.25
Support my regular partners	4 (7.5)	5 (2.5)	0.08
Pleasure	1 (1.9)	1 (0.5)	0.32
Other	2 (3.8)	4 (2.0)	0.46
Who introduced to sex work
Friend, sex worker	14 (26.4)	75 (38.1)	0.14
Friend, non-sex worker	2 (3.8)	3 (1.5)	0.29
Family member, sex worker	6 (11.3)	22 (11.2)	0.94
Family member, non-sex worker	2 (3.8)	3 (1.5)	0.29
Drug dealer	1 (1.9)	1 (0.5)	0.31
Approached by client	2 (3.8)	8 (4.1)	0.94
No one	13 (24.5)	69 (35.0)	0.17
Regular partner who was not your pimp/manager	2 (3.9)	5 (2.5)	0.61
Regular partner who was also your pimp/manager	4 (7.7)	3 (1.5)	0.02
Pimp/manager	4 (7.7)	5 (2.5)	0.08
Other	2 (3.9)	3 (1.5)	0.29