Kampala — CROSS Generation Sex is a contributing factor to the high HIV prevalence rate among girls, a research has revealed.

The research, conducted by the Straight Talk Foundation and PSI in Mukono, Luweero, Wakiso, Masaka and Mpigi district showed that the HIV prevalence among girls' aged 15-24 in the country was four times higher than it was in boys of the same age group.

Cross Generation Sex, otherwise known as the "sugar daddy," phenomenon refers to a non-marital relationship between an older man and a younger woman, whose age difference is 10 years or more.

The report, released on Thursday, revealed that 9.6% of the girls in secondary schools have had sex with men 10 years older than them.

Of the 1,865 students interviewed in 24 secondary schools, 75.3% had had sex in the last 12 months, while 27.6% (487) were involved with sugar-daddies, representing 6.5% of girls aged between 15-19 years.

The girls went in for 'sugar daddies" for fun, cash, comfort and mobile phones.

Others said they needed fatherly love from the older men.

The report stated that the girls were not threatened by the risk of HIV/ AIDS.

It added that the older men had relationships with the under-age girls because they were active and did not cause them problems.

"When they go out for social gathering they give the man maximum respect."