HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia

The spread of HIV/AIDS is a major public health problem in military personnel in Africa. However,the epidemiological evidence regarding HIV/AIDS prevention practices among military personnelin Ethiopia remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate HIV/AIDS preventionpractices among military personnel in Northwest Ethiopia. A cross-sectional study among militarypersonnel (n = 410) was conducted in Northwest Ethiopia in 2015. Data were collected using apre-tested questionnaire. Multivariable logistic regression model was fitted to ascertain factorsinfluencing participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. About one-fourth (24.6%) of themilitary personnel had multiple sexual partners, of whom 24.7% failed to use condoms regularlywhen having sex with non-regular sexual partners. Majority of the sample (n = 355, 86.6%)participated in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Military personnel who had multiple sexualpartners were 6.3 times more likely to report history of non-participation in HIV/AIDS preventionprograms (AOR = 6.3, CI95 = 3.5–11.54). A considerable proportion of military personnel hadmultiple sexual partners with lower levels of condom utilization with non-regular sexual partners.The study further demonstrated misconceptions about HIV/AIDS in Ethiopian military personnel,which reduce their likelihood of participation in HIV/AIDS prevention programs. Healthauthorities need to strengthen and accelerate HIV/AIDS prevention programs focusing towardsmilitary personnel