Social Media and Transactional Sex among Jamaican Females Ages 18+ years: Post-COVID-19

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Paul Andrew Bourne Lisa-Gay Barnaby Chantrea Copeland Byron Edwards Zedina Maxwell Chevaughn Thomas James Fallah Calvin Campbell Clifton Foster Caroline McLean Tabitha Muchee Advella L. Meikle Cynthia Francis

Abstract

Introduction: No studies have emerged on the role of social media on transactional sex post-COVID-19 in Jamaica. This gap in the literature requires urgent attention, which is provided by this study.


Aim: This study aims to identify and comprehend the impact or relationship between transactional sex and social media among women.


Materials and methods: This quantitative research utilizes a cross-sectional descriptive research design to collect data from 1,123 Jamaican females ages 18+ years using a systematic random sampling technique (every fifth female) was used to collect the data. A standardized web-based survey was designed and self-administered by selected respondents was used. The Statistical Institute of Jamaica (STATIN, nd) released the female mid-year population for Jamaica as of 2019. There were 1,387,023 females were living on the island. Of the 1,387,023 Jamaican females, there were 1,159,553 females ages 18+ years. The sample size for this study was based on 1,121,475 females ages 18+ years and older. Using a 95% confidence level and a 2.923% margin error, the calculated sample size was 1,123 females ages 18+ years and older.


Findings: The results revealed that, of the sampled Jamaican females ages 18+ years, 38.0% of them indicated that they have asked their partners for money/gifts after sex and 32.1% of them stated that they have done this at least once. Most practice transactional sex because of multiple reasons (59.9%), with pleasure accounting for 13.4%, 9.8% for material gains, and 5.0% for status.


Conclusion: Social Media and Transactional Sex is a new reality in that the economics is creating changes in the sexual behaviour of Jamaican females ages 18+ years and that must be used in planning social intervention programmes and not focusing on social media which is highlighting the gleaning socioeconomic disparities in the society.

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