HIV: Aktuelle Forschung
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Sexual Risk Behavior among Military Personnel Stationed in Eastern Ethiopia: Using Mixed Methods Approaches

Azeb Weldesenbet, Tekabe Abdosh, Tilahun Tefera K, Ayda R and Hafte K

Introduction: The armed forces are high risk population to HIV/STD globally, even when aware of HIV risk, often do not consider at this risk and stay with steady partners. Although various surveys have been made to study the sexual behaviour of uniformed populations in Ethiopia but, few studies assess military personnel risk perception to HIV/AIDS. We assess HIV/AIDS risk perception among Eastern command military members in Ethiopia.

Methodology: A mixed quantitative and qualitative study design was used. For the quantitative study, a cross sectional study design using self-administered questionnaire was used. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the study units. The sample size of the study was 840 military members. For the qualitative study a Focused Group Discussion was used and the participants were divided into four groups. Data entry and analysis was performed using Epi-data and SPSS statistical software packages. Descriptive statistics was undertaken, and association was calculated using logistic regression.

Result: From those 812 who completed the questionnaires, 378 (46.5%) were corporals, and majority of the respondents were sexually active. Respondents with educational status <6 grade less likely perceived HIV risk compared with those >6 grade (COR with 95% CI=0.633 [0.264-0.925]). Condom user respondents were three times more likely perceived risk than not users (AOR with 95% CI=3.045 [1.448-6.405]).

Conclusion: The military personnel are at high risk for HIV and other STIs. This is reflected by a low risk perception of getting HIV/AIDS among the military members. Alcohol consumption is also common culture among military personnel and it predisposes them to unsafe sexual practice. Strengthening information, education and communication (IEC) activities provide BCC materials in Continuous and organized manner to change the risk behaviors related to HIV of the personnel.