Alcohol Use and HIV Risk in Three Military Populations
Abstract
There is increasing evidence that alcohol use is associated with HIV infection. Military personnel, a population at risk for HIV, are no exception to the detrimental effects of alcohol use. However, there are certain aspects of military life that set this population apart from civilians in terms of alcohol and HIV risk. Historically, alcohol use has strong ties with military culture. Higher rates of heavy alcohol consumption and binge drinking have been reported in service members compared to civilians. Additionally, military service requires members to spend extended periods of time away from loved ones, which may increase loneliness and sexual tension. Studies have shown that military personnel deployed abroad were more likely to engage in risky behaviors, such as having unprotected sex with commercial sex workers, compared to soldiers deployed locally. It is critical to address alcohol use and HIV risk among service members because alcohol use may increase risky sexual behavior, which may increase rates of HIV. Increased rates of HIV may lead to a less effective military, and a less effective military may decrease national security. In order to develop effective interventions, prevention strategies, and policies, a clearer understanding of the nature and extent of the relationship between alcohol use and sexual risk behavior is necessary. This proposal seeks to characterize alcohol use and sexual behavior in the context of HIV/AIDS risk among military personnel in three resource-limited settings: Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Sierra Leone.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 18, 2018
- Source ID
- HU00011710043
Entities
People
- Braden Hale
Organizations
- Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences
- University of California, San Diego