title: HIV infection and high-risk behaviours in a Paraguayan military population.
abstract: Between July 2005 and January 2006 we evaluated 1248 Paraguayan active duty military volunteers. Participants provided a blood sample for HIV testing and answered an anonymous survey. HIV seroprevalence was 0.4% (5 of 1248) among participants. The median age at first sexual intercourse was 16 years. Only 14.8% of participants reported condom use with every sexual encounter. Military students used condoms the most. Participants older than 45 years, compared with younger participants, had a fourfold (adjusted odds ratio 4.3) increased risk of not using condoms. Men were less likely to use a condom, more likely to practice anal intercourse, and had more sexual partners than women. Officers and non-commissioned officers were identified to have a twofold (as measured by adjusted odds ratio = 2.00 and 2.22, respectively) increased risk of having more than two sexual partners in the last month compared with students. Both officers and non-commissioned officers were twice as likely as students to practice anal intercourse. Despite the high-risk behaviours reported by those surveyed, HIV seroprevalence in active duty personnel was low. Future efforts should emphasize on the correct condom use keeping focus on the high-risk behaviours of groups at risk, and on routinely testing the military personnel for HIV.
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru alberto.laguna@med.navy.mil.
authors.forename: V Alberto
authors.initials: VA
authors.lastname: Laguna-Torres
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Control de SIDA, Ministry of Health, Asuncion Paraguay.
authors.forename: Nicolás
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Aguayo
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Control de SIDA, Ministry of Health, Asuncion Paraguay.
authors.forename: Gloria
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Aguilar
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Julia S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Ampuero
authors.affiliation: Comando de las Fuerzas Armadas del Paraguay.
authors.forename: Adolfo
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Galeano
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Control de SIDA, Ministry of Health, Asuncion Paraguay.
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Barboza
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Control de SIDA, Ministry of Health, Asuncion Paraguay.
authors.forename: Margarita
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villafane
authors.affiliation: Programa Nacional de Control de SIDA, Ministry of Health, Asuncion Paraguay.
authors.forename: Liliana
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jiménez
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Juan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Tadeusz J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Kochel
authors.affiliation: US Naval Medical Research Unit No. 6, Lima, Peru.
authors.forename: Eric S
authors.initials: ES
authors.lastname: Halsey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015528:HIV Seroprevalence; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010239:Paraguay / Q000453:epidemiology; D012309:Risk-Taking; D016036:Seroepidemiologic Studies; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012747:Sexual Partners
keywords: AIDS; HIV; Paraguay; developing countries; epidemiology; militaries; risk factors; seroprevalence; sexual risk behaviour