SEX WORK EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF IBADAN, NIGERIA

Abstract

Sex work (SW) is a practice in which sex is exchanged for all kinds of favours including money and other valuable materials. It constitutes a public health problem that leads to transmission of sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Most information on the involvement of Nigerian Female Undergraduate Students (FUSs) in sex work is anecdotal due to the sensitivity of the issue. Evidence-based information is needed to plan intervention programmes. This study was therefore designed to describe the sex work experiences of FUSs of the University of Ibadan. An analytical cross-sectional survey utilising both quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection was carried out. A three-stage sampling technique was used to select 420 FUSs proportionately from female halls; 105 rooms were randomly selected from each hall of residence, blocks and rooms. A self-administered questionnaire which included questions on socio-demographic characteristics, sexual practices and experience of sex work was used. Experience of sex work was measured on a-12-point scale and scores ≤6 and >6 were classified as low, and high experiences, respectively. In Depth Interviews (IDI) were conducted among 10 respondents who were involved in sex work. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square at p=0.05. The IDI data were analysed thematically. Respondents' age was 22.5±2.2 years. Only 8 (1.9%) were married and over a third (39.3%) had ever had sex, of which (123) 74.5% were involved in sex work. Reasons given for involvement in SW included: for basic needs (56.4%), to improve academic grades (42.7%), to get financial help from sugar daddies (40.4%) and to appreciate boyfriends for favours received (33.1%). Among experiences encountered, (59.7%) reported that their last sexual partners had disappointed them by not fulfilling their promises to them, while 87.5% and 72.2% of those involved in sex work were forced to involve in pornographic sex and oral sex respectively. About 70% of respondents involved in SW were self-initiated. Of those who had ever been involved in sex work 87(70.7%) and 36(29.3%) had high and low experience of sex work respectively. Almost half of those involved in sex work had experienced unwanted pregnancy (44.7%), abortion (28.5%) and STIs (18.7%). A significant higher proportion of FUSs who had more than 3 sexual partners (77.5%) were involved in sex work compared to those with 1-2 sexual partners (72.3%). A significant high proportion of FUSs that had sexual debut within the ages 12-16 years (78.7%) were involved in sex work compared to those within the age bracket 17-21 years (72.9%). The IDI also revealed that FUSs get involved in sex work to meet their basic needs and pass examinations. Female undergraduates involved in sex work, experienced reproductive health challenges which included sexually transmitted infections, unwanted pregnancies and abortion. Campus-base enlightenment programmes and counselling service such as youth friendly clinics are needed to address this risk-laden practice.