“They Just Whisper in Their Hearts That He's Doing a Bad Thing”: A Qualitative Study of Tanzanian Perceptions of Cross-Generational Sex

Abstract

HIV prevalence among young Tanzanian women is twice that of men, and risk doubles if a partner is ten or more years older. Cross-generational sex (CGS) is typified by transactions, economic asymmetries, power differentials, and inconsistent condom use. By investigating perceptions of CGS in families, schools, and communities, this study explored the role each plays in addressing or condoning CGS and where interventions are needed. Qualitative data were collected in Tanzania's Iringa and Pwani regions after a campaign to reduce CGS. Community leaders suggested key informants and provided household lists used to randomly select participants. Individual interviews were conducted with 20 women (M age = 20.7, SD = 3.1, range = 15 to 26) and 20 men (M age = 37.1, SD = 7.3, range = 30 to 56), focus groups with 15 women (M age = 20.4, SD = 2.9, range = 17 to 25) and 26 men (M age = 39.2, SD = 7.9, range = 30 to 55), and key informant focus groups with 10 women (M age = 47.6, SD = 10, range = 37 to 70) and 16 men (M age = 55.5, SD = 9.5, range = 37 to 67). CGS was viewed as detrimental to girls' education and a financial loss to parents, but barriers, including reluctance to approach parents and older men, prevented community action. Interventions may involve community leaders transcending restrictions on confronting older men and promoting communication between teachers, communities, parents, and young women regarding CGS.

Characteristics of men who engage in cross-generational sexual behaviour in Nigeria

“…This is in contrast with previous studies in Nigeria, which found that wealthier older men engaged in CGRs (Ojebode et al, 2010(Ojebode et al, , 2011Oyediran et al, 2011). Similarly, there was no association between transactional sex and being in a cross-generational relationship at the bivariate level, contrary to findings by Agunbiade (2012), Dupéré et al (2008), Kaufman et al (2014), Ojebode et al 2011, and Orubuloye et al (1991. Engagement in cross-generational relationships was found to reduce with age, in contrast to previous studies which found that older men engaging in sexual risk behaviour (Uchudi et al, 2010;Odimegwu & Mutanda, 2017).…”

“…Older men often view these relationships more as a recreational pursuit than a long-term union that may lead to marriage (Kuate-Defo, 2004;Leclerc-Madlala, 2008;Ojebode et al, 2010Ojebode et al, , 2011. Also, the African culture of respect for older age and wealth means that the men are not held culpable even when they take advantage of younger women sexually (Gerver, 2013;Kaufman et al, 2014). Condom use in these relationships is inconsistent at best, as the power dynamics are skewed in favour of the older men due to their age and financial provision for the young women, and the young women involved may be unable to insist on condom use (Gregson et al, 2002;Luke & Kurz, 2002;Kaufman & Stavrou, 2004;Wight et al, 2006;Nkosana & Nkosana, 2015).…”

Sexual exploitation of adolescent students in Tanzania: Implication for social services

“…Children and adolescents, especially girls, are involved in sexual partnerships and/or transactional sex with adults in which they are sexually exploited (Luke and Kurz, 2002;Mlyakado, 2013;Silberschmidt and Rasch, 2001). They fall prey to sexual predators because of economic and power differentials (Kaufman et al, 2014;Kuate-Defo, 2004;Williams et al, 2012). While these are some of the socio-cultural and economic factors associated with sexual exploitation of children and adolescents, McCranna et al (2006) identified three broad explanations for child sexual abuse in Tanzania: (1) poverty -older sexual predators offering payment or financial support to worse-off youth, (2) superstition -belief in the cleansing nature of the virgin labia, and (3) lack of education, or ignorance -victims' unawareness of their rights or where to get help in the case of sexual exploitation or abuse.…”

“Eat and you will be eaten”: a qualitative study exploring costs and benefits of age-disparate sexual relationships in Tanzania and Uganda: implications for girls’ sexual and reproductive health interventions

“…Although interventions have targeted vulnerabilities that lead AGYW into age-disparate relationships [13, 14], not much has been achieved to stop the practice [15], nor to stop new HIV infections [16]. It is apparent that, if interventions are to respond adequately to the SRH health needs of AGYW engaged in age-disparate sexual relationships, there will be a need to thoroughly understand why AGYW and older male partners are motivated to be in such relationships.…”