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- Title
Transactional sex among youths in post-conflict Liberia.
- Authors
Atwood KA; Kennedy SB; Barbu EM; Nagbe W; Seekey W; Sirleaf P; Perry O; Martin RB; Sosu F; Atwood, Katharine A; Kennedy, Stephen B; Barbu, Ernlee M; Nagbe, Wede; Seekey, Wede; Sirleaf, Prince; Perry, Oretha; Martin, Roland B; Sosu, Fred
- Abstract
This paper presents findings on sexual risk behaviours of Liberian youths based on five focus-group discussions conducted with 6th and 7th graders (n = 36) attending an elementary/middle school in Monrovia, Liberia. The purpose of the focus-group discussions was to gain an understanding of the sexual behaviours of in-school Liberian adolescents. The focus-group discussions were part of a larger study to adapt an evidence-based HIV-prevention intervention-Making Proud Choices!-for in-school youths. Post-conflict conditions were discussed as a contributor to the emergence of high-risk sexual behaviours, including transactional sex, sexual violence, and lack of condom-use. Transactional sex was often described by the focus-group participants as occurring between young females and older, more financially-secure males to obtain cash, food, clothing, western commodities, and school-fees and was often encouraged by parents and promoted by peers. The findings also indicate that female adolescents make choices to engage in transactional sex to gain access to a continuum of material and consumer needs. These findings suggest that individual risk-taking behaviours are nested within complex sexual economies and that HIV-prevention interventions should be considered that leverage females' agency and control.
- Publication
Journal of Health, Population & Nutrition, 2011, Vol 29, Issue 2, p113
- ISSN
1606-0997
- Publication type
journal article