Abstract
We developed and evaluated a military-focused HIV prevention intervention to enhance HIV risk-reduction knowledge, motivation, and behaviors among Angolan soldiers. Twelve bases were randomly assigned to HIV prevention or control conditions, yielding 568 participants. HIV prevention participants received training in preventing HIV (4.5 days) and malaria (0.5 days). Control participants received the reverse. Monthly booster sessions were available after each intervention. We assessed participants at baseline, 3 and 6 months after the training. HIV prevention participants reported greater condom use and less unprotected anal sex at 3 months, as well as greater HIV-related knowledge and perceived vulnerability at 3 and 6 months. Within-group analyses showed HIV prevention participants increased condom use, reduced unprotected vaginal sex, and reduced numbers of partners at both follow-ups, while control participants improved on some outcomes at 3 months only. A military-focused HIV prevention intervention may increase HIV-related knowledge, motivation, and risk reduction among African soldiers.
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Acknowledgements
This research was funded in part by: the National Institute of Mental Health (R01-MH64883-01), US Department of Defense (GC-3482-132-01-009), the NIMH-funded Center for HIV Identification, Prevention and Treatment Services (P-30-MH58107), Infrastructure Endowment Grant (S21MD000103NIH/NCMHD), and the Universitywide AIDS Research Program-funded Los Angeles Collaborative HIV/AIDS Public Health Research Center (CH05-Drew-616). We thank the Angolan Armed Forces and Dr. Mike Grillo of the Naval Health Research Center for their assistance.
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Bing, E.G., Cheng, K.G., Ortiz, D.J. et al. Evaluation of a Prevention Intervention to Reduce HIV Risk among Angolan Soldiers. AIDS Behav 12, 384–395 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9368-2
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-008-9368-2