Overview of the legality and practice of prostitution in Africa
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The legal status of prostitution in Africa varies widely. It is frequently common in practice, partially driven by the widespread poverty in many sub-Saharan African countries,[1] and is one of the drivers for the prevalence of AIDS in Africa.[2] (36.9% in sub-Saharan Africa)[3] Senegal and Côte d'Ivoire permit the operations of brothels. In other countries, prostitution may be legal, but brothels are not allowed to operate. In some countries where prostitution is illegal, the law is rarely enforced.
Transactional sexual relationships are particularly common in sub-Saharan Africa, where they often involve relationships between older men and younger women or girls. In many cases, the woman in a transactional sexual relationship may remain faithful to her boyfriend, while he may have multiple sexual partners. In both of these cases, transactional sex presents an increased risk of HIV infection. As a result, transactional sex is a factor involved in the spread of AIDS in Africa.
This page uses the UN system of subregions.
^"Increasing prostitution driven by poverty in drought-stricken Kenya – Welthungerhilfe". Welthungerhilfe.de. Archived from the original on 3 January 2007. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
^"AIDS & Prostitution". Avert.org. 12 November 2009. Retrieved 25 January 2010.
^"La OMS defiende la despenalización de la prostitución para reducir los contagios de VIH". ABC.es. 12 December 2012. Retrieved 20 May 2015.
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