Coronavirus restrictions blamed for a surge in city’s sponsor culture

Four out of 10 females aged 15 to 24 in Nairobi reported having sex in exchange for goodies outside their primary relationship after the Covid-19 restrictions were announced, a study has shown.

The survey by the Performance Monitoring for Action (PMA) through the International Centre for Reproductive Health and the Ministry of Health also shows that 36 per cent of the women started a sexual dating relation-ship in order to receive goods and resources in the past 12 months.

Financial dependence 

Of those involved, some 26 per cent received a combination of money, necessities and gifts.

The study that involved 1,223 people – 610 males and 613 females – shows that 57 per cent of adolescents and young women in a transactional partnerships in the past year were in pre-Covid and during Covid-19 while 28 per cent began the relations when restrictions were put in place by the government.

Among those involved at both time points, financial dependence increased by 49 per cent since the beginning of the Covid-19 restrictions.

“Transactional partnerships, often known as sponsors, are common among Nairobi adolescents and young adults,” study lead investigator Peter Gichangi said.

“The economic disruption of the pandemic has created new hardships that can increase financial pressure on young women and may further shape transactional sex dynamics.”

Of the participants, 80.4 per cent said they were sexually active – 81 per cent of the men and 80 per cent of women.

Some 497 of the respondents were students before Covid-19 restrictions, 246 were in informal jobs while 141 were self-employed.

Of the total, 128 were employed in the formal economy, 47 were working at home while 58 did not have an income.

Some 691 of those interviewed were living with their parents, 299 were living alone and 170 with relatives. Seventy seven were living with their partners.

Needs

The “Baseline Nairobi Youth Respondent-Driven Sampling Survey” conducted between August and October revealed that 28 per cent of those who benefited received money and other necessities, including food, shelter and bus fare.

Twenty-two per cent only asked for food and shelter, 20 per cent of the respondents were after money while 11 per cent asked for necessities and money.

“Individuals are dating many people. However, girls are looking at needs. Let this one partner do this. This one will be for hair and the other one for rent. There should be a backup,” said 19-year-old female participant of the study.

“Transactional relationships are not new for young women in Nairobi and access to affordable necessities remains a priority for young women to maintain economic autonomy from partners; these include food, shelter, transport, and sanitary napkins and without access to these essential items, young women may face compromised safety and autonomy,” the survey states.

The study that involved other sexual reproductive issues also accessed the contraceptive usage among adolescents and youth stating that the pandemic and local restrictions in response to Covid-19 may have impacted contraceptive use and access among adolescents.

From the contraceptive dynamics, 71 per cent of the female respondents reported using any contraceptive methods at follow up.

“The most reported main method was male condom among both female users at 36 per cent while 81 per cent male.

Most of the users of the contraceptives wanted to prevent pregnancy with 86 per cent young women and saying 78 per cent young men wanting to prevent pregnancy, some did not want to interfere with their studies others avoided having to obtain an abortion while the rest were not committed enough to partner to have a child

Among participants with a need for contraception did not want a child within one year.