The study sought to examine concurrent sexual partnerships, partner selection, HIV risk perceptions and protective behaviors among a mixed sample of young women in Lagos, Nigeria engaged in transactional sexual relations. Their transactional sexual relations were investigated using quantitative and qualitative methods, with a mixed sample (n=40) of university students (n=16), sex workers (n=16), and street hawkers (n=8). The mean age of the samples was 21 years (SD=2.1). Street hawkers and students averaged 3.4 and 3 sexual partners respectively, while sex workers were not asked this question for purposes of sensitivity. Most women had an unplanned pregnancy (n=27) and abortions (n-27)—as proxies for unsafe sex. Patterns of concurrent sexual partnerships involved 10 partner types, being driven by factors such as economic support, social mobility and love. Findings showed low perception of risk as a function of the longer duration of sexual partnerships and a belief in rich men having juju/native medicine to protect themselves from HIV/AIDS.

HIV/AIDS protective behaviors and beliefs included: ambiguity about condom use in different partnerships; raising the risk of pregnancy to enhance partner agreement to use condoms; belief in the lack of efficacy of condoms contributing to non-use; belief that a broken condom's rubber could cause another disease; a belief that condoms sold in Nigeria are inferior; the practice of taking medicine to “flush away” the virus before it turns to AIDS; combining native medicine with medicines from the chemist and the belief in being justified in having a greater trust in traditional healers who are seen as more likely to maintain their confidentiality when treated; and, fears about HIV/AIDS testing involving the re-use of needles for testing, stigmatization by medical staff, and routine violations of patient confidentiality.

Implications were discussed, including the need for targeted HIV/AIDS prevention programs that respond to the reality of concurrent sexual partnerships and transactional sexual relations among sub-groups such as young university women, commercial sex workers, and street hawkers. Peer education and community health worker training for members of each sub-group would allow indigenous women opportunities for alternative employment in the process.