Transactional Sex and Sexually Transmitted Infections among Women in Uganda

Olivia Nankinga, Makerere University
Allen Kabagenyi, Makerere University

Transactional sex is a pervasive practice in sexual relationships which is often portrayed as a modified form of prostitution and a degraded form of sexual exploitation. It is one of the contributing factors to the on-going HIV/AIDS epidemic in Sub-Saharan Africa. Using the 2006 UDHS data set, the researchers examined the relationship between transactional sex and sexually transmitted infections. Results show that transactional sex had a significant relationship with all socio-demographic characteristics of the women studied. Poor young females were vulnerable to infection given their low economic status. In addition transactional sex had a significant impact on one’s infection status since the women who engaged in transactional sex were two times more likely to report having an STI. Findings suggest the need to inform women about condom use, delayed entry into sexual relations and employment of women to reduce dependence on transactional sex for income.