Demand for heterosexual commercial sex services in Ibadan, Nigeria
Reproductive Health
31
Issue: 2
(11 - 2017)
Context/Backgroud: This paper examines the demand for heterosexual commercial sex services in
Ibadan, Nigeria with specific focus on the sub-markets where different commercial sex activities are
usually traded. Identified players include commercial sex workers (females), clients (males) and
intermediaries (exploiters).
Data Sources & Method: This study employed multi-stage sampling procedure. At the first stage, the
most populous local government area in Ibadan was purposively selected; for the second stage, ten
locations where commercial sex work exists were purposively selected while eighteen (18) clients were
randomly and discretely selected from each of the sites at the last stage. The eventual sample size was
one hundred and sixty-eight (168) clients. The empirical model derived from the rational addiction
theory and it was estimated using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique.
Results: The results show that the demand is highly responsive to age, marital status, income, tastes
and preferences and the price (with respect to condom usage). Clubs/bars, streets and houses were the
highly patronised sub-markets, though the demand was increasing with short time and per night
services in some sub-markets, it was decreasing in others. The nature of risk became more pronounced
with clubs/bar clients being more risk loving while others were risk averse in other sub-markets based
on their respective significant condom usage.
Keywords: demand, heterosexual, Nigeria, commercial sex services, sub-markets
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