Prevention of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV in young military men: evaluation of a cognitive-behavioral skills-building intervention.
BACKGROUND
Military personnel deployed to foreign countries with high endemic rates of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are at risk.


OBJECTIVE
To evaluate a cognitive-behavioral, skills-building intervention to prevent STDs in junior, enlisted, male US Marines deployed to the Western Pacific aboard ships with periodic liberty visits to foreign ports.


METHODS
This study, using a quasi-experimental design, assigned 584 men to a cardiopulmonary resuscitation training (n = 288) or a cognitive-behavioral intervention (n = 296). The intervention aimed to increase prevention knowledge, reduce high-risk psychosocial (motivation) factors, and build decision-making and communication skills to reduce risky sexual behaviors and alcohol consumption.


RESULTS
Participation in the intervention was associated with increased knowledge regarding symptoms and treatment of STDs and HIV (P < 0.001), decreased alcohol use (P < 0.01), and sexual risk (P < 0.01) during liberty ports of call.


CONCLUSIONS
A multiple-session, cognitive-behavioral, skills-building intervention can be successfully implemented for deployed military personnel.
Boyer
C B
CB
Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco 94143-0503, USA. boyer@itsa.ucsf.edu
Shafer
M A
MA
Shaffer
R A
RA
Brodine
S K
SK
Ito
S I
SI
Yniguez
D L
DL
Benas
D M
DM
Schachter
J
J
D001521:Behavior Therapy; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D011314:Preventive Health Services / Q000592:standards*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011615:Psychotherapy, Group / Q000379:methods; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000652:urine; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology