Dissolution of transactional sex relationships during Covid-19

A qualitative study of Ugandan men’s experiences during Covid-19 lockdowns

Bibliographic Data

ID15099640
AuthorsHolly Nishimura (0000-0001-6572-5473, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA, corresponding author), Holly M Nishimura, Neema Nakyanjo (0000-0002-1908-7957, Rakai Health Sciences Program), William G Ddaaki (0000-0002-2395-7003, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Anne Catherine Kiyingi (Rakai Health Sciences Program), Emmanuel Mukwana (Rakai Health Sciences Program), Fred Nalugoda (0000-0001-6119-9293, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Charles Ssekyewa (0000-0003-2240-4105, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Julie A Denison (0000-0002-4670-093X, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA), Julie Denison, M Kate Grabowski (0000-0002-4451-3436, Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA), Joseph Kagaayi (0000-0003-4101-3038, Rakai Health Sciences Program), Caitlin E Kennedy (0000-0001-6820-063X, Department of International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA)
Year2024
Volume26
Issue5
Pages687-700
Publication date2024-05-02
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueCulture Health & Sexuality (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1369-1058 • E-ISSN: 1464-5351
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13691058.2023.2238796
PMID37647132
OpenAlexW4386272589
LanguageEN
References cited14

The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent mitigation measures led to social disruption and negative economic shocks for a large proportion of Uganda's population. The social and economic consequences of COVID-19 on Ugandan men's sexual behaviours, including transactional sex relationships, are unclear. We conducted in-depth interviews between November 2021-February 2022 with 26 men in a high HIV prevalence region of Uganda. Data were analysed thematically to understand how sexual relationships, including transactional sex, were impacted by COVID-19. We found that COVID-19 mitigation measures had far-reaching social and economic impacts on most respondents, particularly those employed in the informal economy. Men described experiencing job loss, food insecurity and restricted mobility, which limited opportunities to provide for and meet with transactional sex partners. Inability to provide financial resources meant that men could not form new transactional sex relationships and men who could no longer provide for their existing transactional sex partners consistently reported relationship dissolution. Men who reported stable employment during the pandemic described few changes in transactional sex relationships. Similarly, men in non-transactional relationships did not report relationship dissolution despite decreased financial provision. Further research should assess the potential short- and long-term impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures on transactional sex relationships

Demographic economics · Disease · Economics · Pandemic · Population · Qualitative research · Social science · Sociology · Transactional analysis · Transactional leadership · Transactional sex · Adolescent Sexual and Reproductive Health · Demography · LGBTQ Health, Identity, and Policy · Medicine · Psychology · Sex work and related issues · Social Psychology