Intergenerational sexual relationship and risk of HIV : a situational analysis of young refugee girls in the city of Tshwane, South Africa

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to explore and describe factors that contribute to young refugee girls (aged 15-19 years) to be engaged in intergenerational sexual relationships in the city of Tshwane. A qualitative, exploratory, descriptive study was conducted using semi-structured interviews. Ten refugee girls were purposively selected using snowballing technique. Powerlessness, increased libido, curiosity, perception of inferior status of the women, attitudes towards assertive women, culture, anonymity, high cost of living, unemployment, poor educational status and residential conditions emerged as the main contributing factors to involvement of young refugee girls in intergenerational sexual relationships. These categories were grouped under three themes namely age, gender inequality and low socio-economic factors. In order to reduce the involvement of young refugee girls in intergenerational sex which increases their risk of HIV infections, the study recommends the initiation and/or improvement of programmes for addressing the three identified themes