Survival Sex as a Coping Mechanism Prevalence and Socio Emotional Effects among Anglophone Internally Displaced Youths IDYs in Bonaberi, Douala IV, Cameroon

The protracted Anglophone Crisis in Cameroon has profoundly disrupted the lives of internally displaced populations, with young women disproportionately affected. This study investigates the prevalence and socio emotional consequences of survival sex among female Anglophone internally displaced youths IDYs in the Bonaberi district of Douala IV. A cross sectional survey was conducted with 60 purposively and conveniently sampled participants from four neighborhoods Grand Hanger, Mabanda, Ndobo, and Rail. Data were collected through a semi structured questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics, multiple regression, and thematic analysis. Findings revealed a strong model fit R = 0.889, R² = 0.790 F = 20.896, p .001 , with 79 of variance in survival sex explained by socio economic and structural factors. Significant positive predictors included economic hardship, social disruption, limited educational opportunities, and lack of support services, while unemployment, gender inequality, and power dynamics showed significant negative associations. Albeit survival sex emerged as a coping mechanism in contexts of deprivation, it was associated with adverse socio emotional effects including shame, guilt, anxiety, stigma, heightened risks of sexually transmitted infections, unintended pregnancies, unsafe abortions, substance abuse, and fractured family relationships. The study underscores survival sex as a multidimensional issue that extends beyond sexual health to psychosocial well being. Addressing it requires holistic, culturally sensitive, and multi sectoral interventions that foster resilience and dignity among displaced young women. Laisin Frankline "Survival Sex as a Coping Mechanism: Prevalence and Socio-Emotional Effects among Anglophone Internally Displaced Youths (IDYs) in Bonaberi, Douala IV, Cameroon" Published in International Journal of Trend in Scientific Research and Development (ijtsrd), ISSN: 2456-6470, Volume-9 | Issue-5 , October 2025, URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/papers/ijtsrd97552.pdf Paper URL: https://www.ijtsrd.com/humanities-and-the-arts/psychology/97552/survival-sex-as-a-coping-mechanism-prevalence-and-socioemotional-effects-among-anglophone-internally-displaced-youths-idys-in-bonaberi-douala-iv-cameroon/laisin-frankline