Drivers of adolescent girls into survival sex in Mbarara municipality and the risks involved

Abstract

Introduction A few recent studies try to differentiate survival sex from other forms of sex that have a transactional component. Adolescents especially those ages 15-19 are slightly more likely than older women to engage in survival sex. It is thus essential that we have a better understanding of adolescents‟ engagement in survival sex because they are the pillars of tomorrow‟s Uganda and the future of every society with power of 1.8 Billion. Methods The study was exploratory in nature and qualitative in approach. It intended to understand the holistic meaning, drivers and the multi-faceted sexual and reproductive health risky experiences involved in survival sex and possibly established vital knowledge that will support all parties involved in developing evidence based interventions to help adolescents involved in survival sex. Results It was discovered that survival sex had a low degree of transactional sex in which adolescent girls' exchange sex for basic necessities of life. Most of the drivers were social economic and included family dysfunction, economic disparities, peer pressure and gender inequalities prompting adolescent girls to engage in survival sex for economic reasons. Risky behaviors such as multiple, concurrent and cross-generation were revealed and these turned out to cause unsafe sex practices which increased sexual and reproductive health disparities which were vital in proposing necessary recommendations for improving sexual and reproductive health. Discussion Discussion examined past theories on drivers, risky perceptions and unsafe sex practices involved in accentuating the economic and survival components in sexual exchange. It was clear that adolescents were a vulnerable group that required public health interventions. Fundamental drivers, risky behaviors and unsafe sex practices that were revealed determined all possible measures fit to reduce survival sex and improve safe sex practices among adolescents. Recommendations and areas of further study were highlighted in regard to sexual and reproductive health improvement.