HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

The 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.

• KEYWORDS: HIV/AIDS prevention
• military personnel
• condom utilization
• VCT services
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the University of Gondar for financial support that made this study possible. We would also like to express our indebtedness to all data collectors and study participants for their cooperation. GK: Initiated the research, wrote the research proposal, conducted the research, did data entry and analysis and wrote the manuscript. AK: Involved in the write up of the proposal, conducted the research, did data analysis and helped in manuscript writing. AT: Involved in the write up of the proposal, conducted the research, did data analysis and helped in manuscript writing. SA: Involved in the write up of the proposal, conducted the research, did data analysis and helped in manuscript writing. HRS: Helped in proposal writing, did data analysis and helped in manuscript writing. AA: Assisted and involved in the whole processes of the research including data analysis and manuscript preparation. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

ORCID

Hardeep Rai Sharma http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5130-5205

Additional information

Funding

There was no special funding source for this study except that few amounts of money that has been paid by the University of Gondar for the purpose of data collection.