title: Reported contraceptive use, risk behaviours and STIs among military conscripts in Estonian defence forces.
abstract: Limited research exists on sexually transmitted infection (STI) and risk behaviour among military personnel. Published research on condom use and types of contraceptives used yield mixed results, yet, the perception that military members are at higher risk for STIs remains. The objectives of this cross-sectional study were to measure factors such as condom use, contraceptive methods, and risky behaviours (i.e. drug use and sex with commercial sex workers) and investigate differences between ethnic groups, where culture could influence behaviour. Data were collected from a recruited population of 584 male, military conscripts in northeastern Europe. Using multinomial logistic regression models, statistically significant findings include an interaction between the use of contraceptive methods of Russians with casual partners and ethnicity, with higher odds of effective methods used among Estonians with regular partners (OR = 8.13) or casual partners (OR = 11.58) and Russians with regular partners (OR = 4.98). Effective contraceptive methods used less frequently with casual partners by ethnic Russians is important in providing education and risk reduction services to young, male conscripts. These findings may be used as a baseline to inform health education and STI prevention programmes tailored to military members in Eastern Europe in the absence of other published studies.
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA rdparker@hsc.wvu.edu.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: David Parker
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Regier
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Widmeyer
authors.affiliation: School of Public Health, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV, USA.
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Honaker
authors.affiliation: Estonian National Institute for Health Development, Tallinn, Estonia.
authors.forename: Kristi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rüütel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017280:Condoms / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003267:Contraception / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003268:Contraception Behavior; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004957:Estonia / Q000453:epidemiology; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D040242:Risk Reduction Behavior; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D012747:Sexual Partners; D012749:Sexually Transmitted Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D044465:White People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Europe; STI; Sexual health; contraception; cultural difference; military; risk factors; sexual behaviour; sexually transmitted infection