Transactional sex and associated factors among female students of Adama science and technology university, Oromia, Ethiopia

Introduction: Transactional sex is an exchange of money, favors or gifts in exchange for sexual relations, commonly the relation between girls and older men. Objectives: the aim of this study was to assess the magnitude of transactional sex and factors associated among Female students of Adama Science and Technology University, Ethiopia. Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used on 668 randomly selected samples. Descriptive data analysis was used to reveal the magnitude of transactional sex and explore the characteristics of study participants. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was applied to assess the relationship of variables. P-value < 0.25 set as cutoff point for multivariable logistic regression and p-value < 0.05 and odds ratio at 95% CI was used to show significant association of variables. Results: Of the total participants about 100 (15.7%) were engaged in to transactional sex for the purpose of economic gain 73 (73%) and 92 (92%) girls had sexual partners other than older men. Variables like age (AOR, 24.8; 95% CI: 1.81, 339.5), History of alcohol drunking(AOR, 5.03; 95% CI: 1.12, 22.7), Kchat chewer (AOR, 4.24; 95% CI: 1.82, 9.911), peer influence (AOR, 2.98; 95% CI: 1.37, 6.50), knowledge on HIV (AOR, 2.75; 95% CI: 1.25, 6.06) were significantly associated with transactional sex. Conclusion and Recommendation: Magnitude of transactional sex among Adama Science and Technology University female student is high. Ministry of Health, Education and Adama Science and Technology university should work together to prevent HIV transmission among university students which may be triggered by transactional sex. Strict measures on kchat sales around university should be taken by concerned body.