A new analysis draws on evidence from three African countries to examine what drives “paid” or transactional sex among young mothers. Transactional sex is described as the exchange of sex for money, food, or other favours. The report notes that the practice is present among young people in the region, with prior studies estimating engagement rates among those aged 15–24 of about 10% in South Africa, 23% in Nigeria and 25% in Uganda. The analysis links transactional sex to a range of harmful outcomes that have been documented in research, including unintended pregnancy, sexual violence and increased risk of HIV infection. The study’s main conclusion is that the factors prompting transactional sex are not uniform: the drivers differ by country. It argues that programmes aimed at reducing transactional sex therefore need to be tailored to local conditions rather than relying on a single, broad approach. Overall, the sources emphasise both the scale of the issue reported in earlier research and the importance of context-specific interventions for young mothers.
Study compares drivers of paid sex among young mothers in three African countries
A new analysis draws on evidence from three African countries to examine what drives “paid” or transactional sex among young mothers. Transactional sex is described as the exchange of sex for money, f...
- Transactional sex is described as exchanging sex for money, food or other favours.
- Rates reported in prior research vary by country: about 10% in South Africa, 23% in Nigeria and 25% in Uganda (ages 15–24).
- Research links transactional sex to harms including unintended pregnancy, sexual violence and HIV infection.
- The drivers of transactional sex among young mothers differ across countries.
- Interventions to address transactional sex need to be tailored to local context.
[The Conversation Africa] Transactional sex, defined as the exchange of sex for money, food, or favours, is common among young people in Africa. Studies have reported that about 10% of those aged 15-24 have engaged in this exchange in South Africa, 23% in Nigeria and 25% in Uganda. The behaviour has been linked to negative consequences such as unintended pregnancy, sexual violence and HIV infections.
2 months agoProgrammes to address transactional sex need to be customised. The drivers change from country to country.
2 months ago
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