Factors influencing involvement in transactional sex among women in Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: The study investigated the factors influencing involvement in transactional sex among women in Uganda. The specific objective of the study involved finding out the determinants of demographic, social economic determinants and women’s risky behaviors and involvement in transactional sex. Methods: Data was extracted from the Uganda AIDS Indicator survey 2011. Analysis was based on 8243 women who were asked if they had transacted sex for money or goods and services in the 12 months preceding the survey were considered. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Pearson chi-squared tests as well as a binary logistic regression model to establish the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable. Analysis was done by STATA 13. Findings: The study findings revealed that women involvement in transactional sex decreased with women’s age. Women aged 45-49 years had reduced odds (OR=0.40) of engaging in transactional sex compared to younger women aged 15-19 years. Women who resided in Eastern (OR=0.38), Northern (OR=0.29) and Western (OR=0.02) regions of Uganda had reduced odds of engaging in transactional sex compared to those from the central region. Women who had ever been tested for HIV and AIDS (OR=0.62) had reduced odds of engaging in transactional sex compared to those who had never tested for HIV and AIDS. The odds of engaging in transactional sex significantly increased with an increase in the number of lifetime partners, women with 4-6 life partners (OR=3.02) and 7+ partners (OR=10.75) had higher odds of engaging in transactional sex compared to those who had 1-3 life time partners. Women who had a higher age at first sex (18+) were 0.63 times less likely to be engaged in transactional sex compared to those that had first sex below18years. Alcohol consumption was equally significant in influencing involvement in transactional sex. Conclusions: Basing on the findings, age of a woman, age at first sex, region, number of life time partners, HIV and AIDS testing and alcohol consumption were the significant determinants of involvement in transactional sex among women 15-49 years in Uganda. The key recommendation includes efforts to delay early initiation of sex, encourage HIV testing, promotion of safer sex practices including the reduction of lifetime sexual partners and more sensitization among younger women on the risks involved with engaging in transactional sex.