Attitudes, beliefs and normative influences linked to transactional sex: Insights from LINEA formative research in Brazil, Tanzania and Uganda

This brief provides an overview of research conducted by the Learning Initiative on Norms Exploitation and Abuse (LINEA) on transactional sex from 2014-2017 in Brazil, Tanzania and Uganda. Through in-depth interviews (IDIs) and focus group discussions (FGDs) with adolescent girls and young women (AGYW) aged 14-24, adolescent boys and young men aged 14-24, as well as adult women and men from the same communities, we explored participants’ attitudes, beliefs and normative influences linked to transactional sex. In alignment with LINEA’s aims we gained critical insights into: 1) individuals’ motivations for engaging in transactional sex and their perceptions of the risks and benefits of this practice; 2) community perceptions on the extent to which transactional sex is considered to be exploitative; and 3) normative influences underpinning the behaviour