HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia |
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| Authors: | Getahun Kebede Alemayehu Kumsa Ararso Tafese Solomon Abdissa Hardeep Rai Sharma Amit Arora |
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| Affiliation: | 1. School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, Tasmania, Australia;2. College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopiagetkoo@yahoo.com;4. John Snow Research &5. Training Institute Inc./the Last Ten Kilometers (JSI/L10?K) Project, Jimma, Ethiopia;6. College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Department of Public Health, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia;7. College of Medicine and Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia;8. Institute of Environmental Studies, Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, Haryana, India!["ORCID]("//:0" "\"ORCID") https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5130-5205;9. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia;10. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia;11. Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia;12. Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Dental Hospital, NSW Health, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia |
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| Abstract: | ABSTRACTThe spread of HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in military personnel in Africa. However, the epidemiological evidence regarding HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Ethiopia remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study among military personnel (n?=?410) was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia in 2015. Data were collected using a pre-tested questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to ascertain factors influencing participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. About one-fourth (24.6%) of the military personnel had multiple sexual partners, of whom 24.7% failed to use condoms regularly when having sex with non-regular sexual partners. Majority of the sample (n?=?355, 86.6%) participated in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Military personnel who had multiple sexual partners were 6.3 times more likely to report history of non-participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs (AOR?=?6.3, CI95?=?3.5–11.54). A considerable proportion of military personnel had multiple sexual partners with lower levels of condom utilization with non-regular sexual partners. The study further demonstrated misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in Ethiopian military personnel, which reduce their likelihood of participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Health authorities need to strengthen and accelerate HIV/AIDS prevention programs focusing towards military personnel. |
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| Keywords: | KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS prevention military personnel condom utilization VCT services Ethiopia |
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!["ORCID]({"type":"image","src":"/templates/jsp/images/orcid.png"} "\"ORCID")
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5130-5205;9. School of Science and Health, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia;10. Translational Health Research Institute, Western Sydney University, Penrith, NSW, Australia;11. Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW, Australia;12. Oral Health Services, Sydney Local Health District and Sydney Dental Hospital, NSW Health, Surry Hills, NSW, Australia