Regional heterogeneity in violence and individual characteristics associated with recent transactional sex among Ugandan girls and young women: A national and regional analysis of data from the Violence Against Children and Youth Survey

This study assessed associations between recent transactional sex and potential determinants and variations in patterns across two geographic regions with high HIV burden compared to the rest of Uganda, among adolescent girls and young women.

In 2015, a nationally representative cross-sectional household survey was conducted in Uganda. A stratified multi-stage cluster sample design produced nationally representative estimates and sub-national estimates for adolescent girls and young women in two high HIV burden regions, DREAMS Central 1 (Bukomansimbi, Ssembabule, and Rakai districts) and DREAMS Central 2 (Mubende, Mityana, Gomba, and Mukono districts), and the rest of Uganda. To identify associations between recent transactional sex (defined as sex in the past 12 months in exchange for material support or help) and risk factors, multivariable logistic regressions were conducted. Interaction terms assessed the associations between violence and recent transactional sex across geographic regions.