Mombasa bar-girls: a study of prostitution and venereal disease in a Kenya seaport
Abstract
Description
A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the award of the Diploma of Public Health Degree of Makerere University.
Africa in particular East Africa is in a rapid process of remolding herself in attempt to catch up with the rest of the developed world. She is undergoing a process of industrialisation which is accompanied by increasing urbanisation. People of different cultures have left rural communities for the urban centres and there they formed societies of different social structures from that of their original homes. Those social groups are of varying patterns and often they are based on certain key points such as common beliefs and practices, common need, work, or recreational places. Like birds of the same feather members of the same social group always flock together. Together with these changes, there has also grown up revolutionary changes in attitudes and behaviour amongst the people. What was a taboo food years back is a favourite dish today. What could have been mentioned in a social group previously, for example, matters relating to sexual reproductive happenings and experiences, are today spoken of without inhibition. Such changes in attitude and behaviour of people in some of the “new communities” have given rise to certain groups which are special problem groups in medicine, public health and sociology. One of these special problem groups is that group of people who are known under a multitude of names such as prostitutes, Bar-maids, Bargirls, “Malaya”, “Mbwa kachoka” etc…..
Africa in particular East Africa is in a rapid process of remolding herself in attempt to catch up with the rest of the developed world. She is undergoing a process of industrialisation which is accompanied by increasing urbanisation. People of different cultures have left rural communities for the urban centres and there they formed societies of different social structures from that of their original homes. Those social groups are of varying patterns and often they are based on certain key points such as common beliefs and practices, common need, work, or recreational places. Like birds of the same feather members of the same social group always flock together. Together with these changes, there has also grown up revolutionary changes in attitudes and behaviour amongst the people. What was a taboo food years back is a favourite dish today. What could have been mentioned in a social group previously, for example, matters relating to sexual reproductive happenings and experiences, are today spoken of without inhibition. Such changes in attitude and behaviour of people in some of the “new communities” have given rise to certain groups which are special problem groups in medicine, public health and sociology. One of these special problem groups is that group of people who are known under a multitude of names such as prostitutes, Bar-maids, Bargirls, “Malaya”, “Mbwa kachoka” etc…..
Keywords
Prostitution, Venereal Diseases, Mombasa, HIV/AIDS