Condom use during last sexual contact and last 30 days in two samples of Caribbean military personnel.

Condom use during last sexual contact is a survey measure that may be used to inform monitoring and evaluation indicators of recent condom use in populations at risk for HIV infection and other sexually transmitted infections, such as the uniformed services. The authors tested for differences in condom use measures that were fielded within separate Biological and Behavioral Surveillance Surveys conducted in the armed forces of two separate nations: the Dominican Republic and Belize. Both surveys included measures of condom use during last sexual contact with specified partners and both surveys included the Risk Behavior Assessment (RBA), which measures specific sexual acts and condom use frequency during a specified time period. In both samples, more than 40% of respondents who reported condom use during last sexual contact with a regular partner also reported engaging in unprotected sex when screened with the RBA. Furthermore, more than 60% of respondents who reported condom use during last sexual encounter with a commercial sex worker also reported engaging in unprotected sex when screened with the RBA. The results carry implications for monitoring and evaluation indicators of large-scale HIV prevention programs. The authors recommend that, when feasible, more in-depth instruments such as the RBA be considered to measure recent condom use in populations of uniformed services personnel.

Sexual risk behavior among military personnel stationed at border-crossing zones in the Dominican Republic / Comportamiento sexual riesgoso del personal militar en zonas de paso fronterizo de la República Dominicana

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among military personnel stationed along major border-crossing zones between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. METHODS: From November 2008 to January 2009, behavioral surveys were administered to 498 active duty military personnel stationed along the three largest border-crossing zones on the western border of the Dominican Republic. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling and asked about their sexual behavior over the past 12 months, alcohol use, and mental health. RESULTS: Forty-one percent reported having casual sex during the past 12 months, 37 percent of men had a history of having sex with a commercial sex worker (19 percent during the past 12 months), and 7 percent of men reported a history of having sex with a transmigrating Haitian (6 percent during the past 12 months). Among sexually non-monogamous respondents (51 percent), inconsistent condom use exceeded 60 percent for those engaging in anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Fifteen percent reported using sexual coercion during the past 12 months. CONCLUSIONS. Sexual risk behaviors were prevalent among military personnel stationed along border-crossing zones between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Prevention programs targeted at military personnel in this region should incorporate sexual coercion and mental health as key elements of their HIV prevention programs.

OBJETIVO. Calcular la prevalencia del comportamiento sexual riesgoso del personal militar que sirve en las principales zonas de paso fronterizo entre la República Dominicana y Haití. MÉTODOS. De noviembre del 2008 a enero del 2009, se aplicaron encuestas sobre comportamiento a 498 miembros del personal militar que estaba en servicio activo en las tres zonas principales de paso fronterizo de la frontera occidental de la República Dominicana. Se seleccionó una muestra aleatoria y sistemática de participantes, a los que se les formularon preguntas sobre su comportamiento sexual de los últimos 12 meses, el consumo de bebidas alcohólicas y la salud mental. RESULTADOS: De todos los entrevistados, 41 por ciento revelaron que habían mantenido relaciones sexuales casuales en los últimos 12 meses, 37 por ciento de los hombres alguna vez habían mantenido relaciones sexuales con un profesional del sexo (19 por ciento en los últimos 12 meses) y 7 por ciento de los hombres informaron que habían tenido relaciones sexuales con personas de Haití que cruzaron la frontera (6 por ciento en los últimos 12 meses). De los entrevistados no monógamos (51 por ciento), más de 60 por ciento de los que mantuvieran relaciones por vía anal, vaginal u oral no fueron constantes en el uso de preservativos. Refirieron el uso de coacción sexual en los últimos 12 meses 15 por ciento de los entrevistados. CONCLUSIONES: †El comportamiento sexual riesgoso es prevalente entre los miembros del personal militar que sirve en las zonas de paso fronterizo entre República Dominicana y Haití. Los programas de prevención contra la transmisión del VIH destinados al personal militar de esta región deben incorporar como temas esenciales la coacción sexual y la salud mental.

Sexual risk behavior among military personnel stationed at border-crossing zones in the Dominican Republic.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the prevalence of sexual risk behaviors among military personnel stationed along major border-crossing zones between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. METHODS: From November 2008 to January 2009, behavioral surveys were administered to 498 active duty military personnel stationed along the three largest border-crossing zones on the western border of the Dominican Republic. Participants were selected using systematic random sampling and asked about their sexual behavior over the past 12 months, alcohol use, and mental health. RESULTS: Forty-one percent reported having casual sex during the past 12 months, 37% of men had a history of having sex with a commercial sex worker (19% during the past 12 months), and 7% of men reported a history of having sex with a transmigrating Haitian (6% during the past 12 months). Among sexually non-monogamous respondents (51%), inconsistent condom use exceeded 60% for those engaging in anal, vaginal, or oral sex. Fifteen percent reported using sexual coercion during the past 12 months. CONCLUSIONS: Sexual risk behaviors were prevalent among military personnel stationed along border-crossing zones between the Dominican Republic and Haiti. Prevention programs targeted at military personnel in this region should incorporate sexual coercion and mental health as key elements of their HIV prevention programs.