Cross-generational relationships in rural Jamaica

Abstract

In keeping with trends in the most affected regions of the world, Jamaican young women are at greater risk of becoming infected with HIV than their male peers. Cross-generational relationships (CGRs), or sexual relationships between younger females and older men, have been reported as contributing to this increased risk. Utilizing a qualitative research design, this study aimed to (1) delineate the context in which CGRs occurred in some rural communities in Jamaica and (2) investigate the sexual risk behaviors that occurred in these relationships. The results indicated that young women engaged in these relationships for three main reasons: economic gain, status, and emotional support. At the intrapersonal, interpersonal, and community levels based on the social ecological model, findings also highlighted various factors which facilitated the occurrence of these relationships in some rural communities, including the transactional nature of the relationships, as well as family knowledge and encouragement. The results also highlighted the occurrence of sexual risk behaviors, such as multiple concurrent partnerships and lack of consistent condom use, which may increase young girls' risk of exposure to HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This study's findings are consistent with previous research and underscore the challenges faced by intervention planners when promoting safe sex.

Keywords:

• cross-generational relationships
• young women
• HIV
• Jamaica

Notes

1. The Rural Family Support Organization (RuFamSO) started in 1986 as a Teenage Mothers Project addressing the specific needs of teenage mothers and their children. The project was the product of collaboration between the Government of Jamaica, the University of the West Indies, and the Bernard van Leer Foundation. After 10 years, the project was transformed into the RuFamSO – an organization that sought to address the multiple factors impacting teenage pregnancy. Currently, RuFamSO is an NGO providing integrated services for families in the central region of the island. These services are provided in the areas of literacy and numeracy, life skills training, counseling, vocational and technical training, parenting support, and young child stimulation and development.

2. All study participants (including those that were interviewed) had completed high school, but their level of educational attainment varied in terms of the number of subjects which they passed during their external exams. Students either took the Caribbean Examination Council ordinary level (CXC O' Level) examination, which is for all Caribbean high school students or the Secondary School Certificate (SSC) examinations, which is specific to Jamaican high school students. The number of passes ranged from zero to six subjects. While six CXC subjects are enough to ensure matriculation into some Jamaican colleges, study participants with this number of subjects chose to attend RuFamSO's training facility because they were unable to afford college tuition. The majority of study participants lived with their parents (15) or extended family such as an aunt or uncle (8); the others lived alone (3), except for 2 interviewees who were living with their partner at the time of data collection.

3. The focus group and interview guides were adapted from Wood (2007) and had different questions:

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