AEGiS-14IAC: HIV and STD risks and prevention in the Angolan Armed Forces: challenges and opportunities at the end of a civil war.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV and STD risks and prevention in the Angolan Armed Forces: challenges and opportunities at the end of a civil war.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. LbPp2202)

Ernesto F, Ortiz DJ, Boyer CB, deDeus FJ, Bing EG
Forcas Armadas Angolanas, Luanda, Angola

BACKGROUND: Angola's 27-year civil war may have inadvertently limited HIV transmission by severely restricting mobility within the country. It's HIV prevalence is estimated to be 4% of the general population compared to rates of 20% to 35% in neighboring sub-Saharan African countries. Military personnel, generally young, sexually active and highly mobile men, are particularly at risk. Anticipated large-scale demilitarization, following the civil war's end in April 2002, may lead to rapid diffusion of the virus into new populations throughout Angola. HIV prevention for Angolan military and civilians is urgently needed.

METHODS: We conducted 8 focus groups (73 participants) with Angolan military officers, lieutenants and corporals in Feb. 2002 to assess risk perception, transmission knowledge and identify effective prevention methods.

RESULTS: Participants included 70 men and 3 women between 16 and 42 years old (n =28.7). Most men (70%), regardless of marital status, had multiple sexual partners. Many participants had only rudimentary knowledge of HIV/STI transmission and symptoms. Some believed that condoms were ineffective in preventing transmission and others believed that AIDS was a myth. Factors participants identified that must be addressed in prevention campaigns include lack of HIV awareness and knowledge, limited condom use and availability, heavy alcohol use, multiple sexual partners, deployment to remote locations, and few available HIV counseling and testing services.

CONCLUSIONS: Angola has a brief window of opportunity to avoid the ravages that HIV has wrought among neighboring sub-Saharan countries. A multifaceted HIV prevention program for the Angolan military that addresses informational, interpersonal and system-level barriers, must be implemented now.

Keywords: AEGIS, HIV Infections, Condoms, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Risk-Taking, Prevalence, HIV Seropositivity, Counseling, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Military Personnel, Angola, Human, Male, Female, prevention & control

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