title: Brief Report: Sexual Risk Behaviors of HIV Seroconverters in the US Army, 2012-2014.
abstract: The United States (US) Army implemented a comprehensive HIV characterization program in 2012 following repeal of the Don't Ask, Don't Tell policy banning openly homosexual individuals from serving in the US military. Program staff administered a standardized case report form to soldiers newly diagnosed with HIV from 2012 to 2014 in compliance with new program requirements. The case report form documented sociodemographic, sexual, and other risk behavior information elicited from US Army regulation-mandated epidemiologic interviews at initial HIV notification. A majority of HIV-infected soldiers were male and of black/African American racial origin. In the HIV risk period, male soldiers commonly reported male-male sexual contact, civilian partners, online partner-seeking, unprotected anal sex, and expressed surprise at having a positive HIV result. Don't Ask, Don't Tell repeal allows for risk screening and reduction interventions targeting a newly identifiable risk category in the US Army. At-risk populations need to be identified and assessed for possible unmet health needs.
authors.affiliation: *US Military HIV Research Program, Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD; †US Army Public Health Command, Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD; and ‡US Military HIV Research Program, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Bethesda, MD.
authors.forename: Shilpa
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hakre
authors.forename: Stephanie L
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Scoville
authors.forename: Laura A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pacha
authors.forename: Sheila A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Peel
authors.forename: Jerome H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.forename: Nelson L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Michael
authors.forename: Steven B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Cersovsky
authors.forename: Paul T
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Scott
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008889:Military Personnel; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult