2025/10/10 by Omotoba, Nathaniel, Anetor, Gloria, Okama, Victoria U.
#Irregular Migration #Lagos #Sex Tourism #Socio-economic
paper · doi:10.82265/sa5n-dp84
This study investigates the socio-economic, psychological, and social factors influencing young women’s engagement in migrant sex work in Lagos, Nigeria. The study, based on survey data from rehabilitation centres, identifies critical drivers such as self-esteem, mindset, peer and parental pressures, and economic factors like low income and unemployment. The results from multiple regression analysis reveal significant predictors: economic factors (get-rich syndrome, low income, and unemployment) account for 13% of the variance in engagement in migrated sex work (R2 = 0.13, F (3,447) = 22.27, p < 0.001), with low income (β = 0.57, t = 8.06, p < 0.01) emerging as the strongest determinant. Psychological factors, particularly mindset, show a 9% variance explanation (R2 = 0.09, F(3,447) = 16.33, p < 0.001), with mindset being a significant predictor (β = 0.28, t = 5.40, p < 0.001). Social factors, including parental pressure (β = 0.31, t = 5.11, p < 0.001) and attitude toward luxury (β = 0.16, t = 3.33, p < 0.01), contribute 7% to the variance (R2 = 0.07, F(3,447) = 11.57, p < 0.001). The study highlights the role of socio-economic vulnerabilities, particularly low income and unemployment, as pivotal in driving young women towards sex tourism. The findings emphasise the need for targeted interventions, such as economic empowerment, education, and awareness campaigns, to reduce migration for sex work and promote safer migration alternatives.