Protecting our militaries: a systematic literature review of military human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention programs worldwide.
OBJECTIVE
To systematically review published studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention programs targeting the world's military populations.


METHODS
We systematically searched eight electronic databases (publications from 1983 to February 2005) and hand-searched the bibliographies of HIV/AIDS prevention reviews to identify evaluative studies of HIV/AIDS prevention interventions for military personnel.


RESULTS
Five hundred eighty-four abstracts were identified, of which eight met formal acceptance criteria. Four prevention interventions were identified, with each reporting a positive intervention effect on one or more of the following outcomes: increasing soldiers' knowledge of HIV/AIDS, willingness to engage in preventive behaviors, changing their attitudes toward greater compliance with prevention guidelines, and HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence.


CONCLUSIONS
Published interventions to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS among military personnel are effective under certain conditions and with a limited number of populations. We discuss problems inherent in such research and make recommendations to improve the development, evaluation, and dissemination of findings of comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs among military populations.
Russak
Simcha M
SM
Drew Center for AIDS Research, Education, and Services, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA.
Ortiz
Daniel J
DJ
Galvan
Frank H
FH
Bing
Eric G
EG
D000163:Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome / Q000517:prevention & control*; D019992:Databases as Topic; D014943:Global Health; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000517:prevention & control*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000523:psychology*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014481:United States