How food insecurity drives girls in SA into transactional relationships

IN THE vibrant yet vulnerable landscape of South Africa, nearly 10 million adolescents grapple with the weight of survival amid systemic neglect.

- STAFF REPORTER

A new study from the University of Pretoria’s Department of Psychology lays bare the harsh truths of adolescent girls navigating poverty, food insecurity, and the life-altering consequences of transactional relationships.As these young women seek to fill their stomachs, they are often compelled to trade their safety for fleeting sustenance.

Across communities where resources are minimal, the pressures faced by adolescent girls become unbearable.

Professor Eugene Lee Davids sheds light on the pervasive issue,

stating: “Food insecurity doesn’t just mean going to bed hungry — it reverberates through every aspect oflife, especially for girls in impoverished areas.”

Within these confines, access to education, healthcare, and safe environments is alarmingly low, creating a terrifying cycle of vulnerability.

The repercussions of structural deprivation manifest in a tragic compromise: a full stomach borne from risky sexual favours.