From Survival to Glamour: Motivations for Engaging in Transactional Sex and Relationships Among Adolescent Girls and Young Women in South Africa

We explored transactional sex and relationships (TSR) among South African adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) using (1) survey data from 4,399 AGYW aged 15–24 years, and (2) qualitative data from 237 AGYW and 38 male peers. Ten percent of sexually active AGYW reported having ever had transactional sex; 14% reported having stayed in a relationship for money or material items. Factors associated with higher reporting of TSR included HIV positivity, higher food insecurity, and alcohol use. Those AGYW who were between the ages of 20–24 years (OR: 1.0; 95% CI: 0.81–1.24), had a sexual partner older than her by 5 years or more (OR: 1.89; 95% CI: 1.58–2.26), and had a transactional relationship in the past (OR: 61.1; 95% CI: 47.37–78.76) were more likely to report having transactional sex. AGYW qualitative narratives included both assertions of agency in choosing to engage in TSR, and power inequities resulting in condomless sex. Our findings can inform interventions to addressing transactional sex and relationships, critical to South Africa’s HIV response.