DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE PREVALENCE OF TRANSACTIONAL SEX AMONG UNDERGRADUATES IN IGNATIUS AJURU UNIVERSITY OF EDUCATION

Abstract

This study was on Demographic Factors in the Prevalence of Transactional Sex among Undergraduates in Ignatius Ajuru university of Education. Three objectives were raised which included: To find out the effect of religion on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education, to find out the effect of Family structure on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education and to find out the effect of level of education on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education . The total population for the study is 75 selected students in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies. The study recommended that the majority of the sexually active respondents seem to have started sex when they commenced their college education. This needs to be addressed through development of intervention strategies such as ‘First thing first’ programmes for orientating of the first college entering students’ to make students delay sex

Chapter one

Introduction

1.1Background of the study

Young adults experience a critical phase in life when developing from childhood to adolescence. During this phase in life, most of these adolescents engage in health-risk sexual behaviors which could jeopardize their long term physical and mental well-being (National Health Demographic Survey, 2009). One such behavior is transactional sex. Contextually, transactional sex is generally defined as the trading (buying and selling) of sex for material benefits [that is exchanging money, food, academic grades, drugs, shelter, or other items for sex] (Vergenia, 2012). The prevalence of this behavior to a large extent has led to the global burden of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) to remain high with millions of new infections yearly (WHO, 2014). This behavior if unprotected is prone to result in unwanted pregnancy, abortion, maternal and neonatal death among other related health mishaps including the spread of sexually transmitted infections and diseases like gonorrhea, syphilis, Human Immuno Virus (HIV), and other diseases.

Transactional sexual relationships are non-commercial relationships in which sex is demanded mostly by men and exchanged for cash, goods, services, commodities, or privileges mostly by women for the purpose of meeting the needs of men and women involved in the relationships. Transactional sexual relationships has been widely reported across the world and linked to several adverse sexual and reproductive health outcomes such as increasing sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS and intimate partner violence and several socio-economic exploitative practices (Tade O, Adekoya AJ, 2012)

Various scholars have reported that varying levels of transactional sex are prevalent among young adults in tertiary institutions (Adefalu and Ayodele, 2019; Ajayi and Okeke, 2019; Austrian, Solar-Hampejsek, Duby and Heweth, 2019; Gukurume, 2011). The justification for this attestation could be associated with various factors including family system influence, financial status, place of residence, gender influence, and other socio-economic factors. Gender of the young adult is perceived as an influencing factor in transactional sex practice particularly considering puberty age (Adefalu and Ayodele, 2019; Masvawure, 2010). This could be related to the fact that sexual maturity/initiation occurs earlier among females compared to males; though males are more likely to have multiple sexual patterns (Bamgboye, et al., 2017; Folayan, Odetoyinbo and Brown, 2014; Shefer, Clowes and Vergani, 2012). In terms of place of residence, studies show that undergraduate students who reside outside the school environment were more likely to engage in transactional sex than those who reside within the school environment (Micheal, 2012; Austrian, et al., 2019).

Ajayi and Somefu (2019) reported that the family system is one factor that has made transactional sex practice to remain persistent in tertiary institutions. Ajayi and Okeke (2019) were of the view that traditional polygenous family system structure coupled with the high level of poverty promotes transactional sex. This according to these authors is evident when most parents induce their daughters to engage in transactional sex to help with providing for their family needs. Many studies have attributed the practice of transactional sex to women’s poverty; thus, sex is used as a means to earn income (Ajayi and Somefun, 2019; Gukurume, 2011; Okonkwo, 2018; Wamoyi, 2019). Therefore, to satisfy their material needs, young women from poor families engage in transactional sex sometimes without condoms especially if the pay is high. Although there is overwhelming evidence of the adverse outcomes associated with transactional sex especially many known health-risks, many of them are still motivated to engage.

In Nigeria, families with low economic status often are unable to provide material and financial educational assistance to young adults (Kazeem, Jensen and Slokes, 2010). This is even more challenging when poor families have to support the educational programme of their wards in tertiary institutions with little or no form of financial support from the private or public organizations. There is little or insufficient assistance from the government in the form of soft loans, scholarship opportunities, academic and moral awards among other assistance they could benefit (Odia and Omofonmwan, 2007). Some scholars hold the view that support for families could pose a threat in transactional sex practice (Adefalu and Ayodele, 2019; Ajayi and Okeke, 2019). This will be possible if appropriate support services are available and provided to indigent families to avoid inducement for transactional sex as a means for survival by young adults. Aside provision of support services to families, intensifying services on reproductive health awareness by government agencies could curb transactional sex practice in tertiary institutions.

Statement of the problem

There is an have indication that tertiary institutions are places devoid of parental monitoring and supervision, hence allowing young adults to live a life of learning and imitating certain negative behavior including transactional sex practice (Ajayi and Somefu, 2019; Gukurume, 2011; Masvawure, 2010; Tade, et al., 2012; Erinosho et al 2012).). To date, numerous existing and emerging sexually transmitted infections and diseases among other health-related mishaps have partly been associated with transactional sex practice (WHO, 2013). This study, therefore, is timely as it seeks to contribute to the narrative on transactional sex in tertiary institutions by presenting the professional roles social workers can bring to bear in stemming current practice in Nigeria. Given that there is still a dearth of social work knowledge and intervention in school settings particularly in Nigeria tertiary institutions, it is thus imperative to place the findings of this study in the public domain to increase knowledge and visibility of social work practice in Nigeria

Objective of the study

The objective of the study is to investigate demographic factors in the prevalence of transactional sex among undergraduates in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education. The specific objectives are;

1. To find out the effect of religion on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
2. To find out the effect of Family structure on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education
3. To find out the effect of level of education on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

Research Question

The following research questions were formulated;

1. What is the effect of religion on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education?
2. What is the effect of Family structure on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education?
3. What is the effect of level of education on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education?

Research Hypotheses

The following research hypotheses were formulated;

H0: there is no effect of religion on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

H1: there is effect of religion on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

H0: there is no effect of Family structure on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

H2: there is effect of Family structure on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

H0: there is no effect of level of education on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

H3: there is effect of level of education on transactional sex among undergraduate in Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

Significance of the study

The study will be of benefit to students, parents, lecturers, ministry of education and the general public. The study will give a clear insight on demographic factors in the prevalence of transactional sex among undergraduates. The less investigated of these factors are the effects of family structure and family support on transactional sex. Many studies have documented the influence of family structure on youth and adolescents’ outcomes, such as academic achievement, health and well-being. This study gives more light on this. The study will serve as a reference to other researcher that will embark on the related topic

Scope of the study

The scope of the study will covers demographic factors in the prevalence of transactional sex among undergraduate. The study will be limited to students of Ignatius Ajuru University of Education

Limitation of the study

The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study

 The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.

 Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).

Definition of terms

Demographic factor: Demographic factors are the socioeconomic characteristics of a population expressed statistically. These typically include such factors as age, gender, level of education, amount of income, marital status, occupation, religion, birth rate, death rate, the average size of a family, the average age at marriage etc Transaction sex: Transactional sex refers to sexual relationships where the giving and/or receiving of gifts, money or other services is an important factor. The participants do not necessarily frame themselves in terms of prostitutes/clients, but often as girlfriends/boyfriends, or sugar babies/sugar daddies

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