[Prostitution--a sequela of sexual abuse]

AIDS has consolidated the isolated state of prostitutes and stigmatized them as HIV carriers. Due to the threat of AIDS, the Berlin senate has worked out a programme for prostitutes. For the programme to succeed, knowledge of the causes of prostitution is a prerequisite, such as sexual abuse during childhood and adolescence. The sexually abused who have gone without psychological help are prone to prostitution. The work and its evaluation by a psychologist is presented to help counselling Services on Venereal Diseases in their work.