Abstract
BackgroundEthnographic evidence suggests that transactional sex is sometimes motivated by youth’s interest in the consumption of modern goods as much as it is in basic survival. There are very few quantitative studies that examine the association between young people’s interests in the consumption of modern goods and their sexual behaviour. We examined this association in two regions and four residence zones of Madagascar: urban, peri-urban and rural Antananarivo, and urban Antsiranana. We expected risky sexual behaviour would be associated with interests in consuming modern goods or lifestyles; urban residence; and socio-cultural characteristics.MethodsWe administered a population-based survey to 2, 255 youth ages 15–24 in all four residence zones. Focus group discussions guided the survey instrument which assessed socio-demographic and economic characteristics, consumption of modern goods, preferred activities and sexual behaviour. Our outcomes measures included: multiple sexual partners in the last year (for men and women); and ever practicing transactional sex (for women).ResultsOverall, 7.3% of women and 30.7% of men reported having had multiple partners in the last year; and 5.9% of women reported ever practicing transactional sex. Bivariate results suggested that for both men and women having multiple partners was associated with perceptions concerning the importance of fashion and a series of activities associated with modern lifestyles. A subset of lifestyle characteristics remained significant in multivariate models. For transactional sex bivariate results suggested perceptions around fashion, nightclub attendance, and getting to know a foreigner were key determinants; and all remained significant in multivariate analysis. We found peri-urban residence more associated with transactional sex than urban residence; and ethnic origin was the strongest predictor of both outcomes for women.ConclusionsWhile we found indication of an association between sexual behaviour and interest in modern goods, or modern lifestyles, such processes did not single-handedly explain risky sexual behaviour among youth; these behaviours were also shaped by culture and conditions of economic uncertainty. These determinants must all be accounted for when developing interventions to reduce risky transactional sex and vulnerability to HIV.
Highlights
Ethnographic evidence suggests that transactional sex is sometimes motivated by youth’s interest in the consumption of designer goods as much as it is in basic survival
We assess with quantitative approaches the extent to which young women are, as one young man stated in a focus group in Antananarivo, Madagascar “laying down their bodies for the love of [fashion].”
Is there any evidence to suggest that young women who report having either multiple sexual partners or having engaged in transactional sex are more interested in pursuing a “modern” lifestyle and obtaining the goods that symbolize it? we examine whether or not there are associations between young people’s interests in the consumption of modern goods; their actual consumption patterns; and their sexual behaviour
Summary
Ethnographic evidence suggests that transactional sex (sex provided in eventual exchange for gifts or money) is sometimes motivated by youth’s interest in the consumption of designer goods as much as it is in basic survival. This form of transactional sex has been described both as in step with “must-have” consumerist culture Is there any evidence to suggest that young women who report having either multiple sexual partners or having engaged in transactional sex are more interested in pursuing a “modern” lifestyle and obtaining the goods that symbolize it? There are very few quantitative studies that examine the association between young people’s interests in the consumption of modern goods and their sexual behaviour. The sugar-daddy phenomenon (young woman having a transactional relationship with an older, and typically married man) almost always means concurrent sexual relationships for men [12,21] and can often imply concurrent relationships for the young women as well, who may pursue relationships with a peer in addition to their sugar-daddy [15,22]
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