Protecting our militaries: A systematic literature review of military human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome prevention programs worldwide

OBJECTIVES: To systematically review published studies of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) prevention programs targeting the world’s military populations. METHODS: We systematically searched eight electronic databases (publications from 1983 to February 2005) and hand-searched the bibliographies of HIV/AIDS prevention reviews to identify evaluative studies of HIV/AIDS prevention interventions for military personnel. RESULTS: Five hundred eighty-four abstracts were identified, of which eight met formal acceptance criteria. Four prevention interventions were identified, with each reporting a positive intervention effect on one or more of the following outcomes: increasing soldiers’ knowledge of HIV/AIDS, willingness to engage in preventive behaviors, changing their attitudes toward greater compliance with prevention guidelines, and HIV/AIDS incidence and prevalence. CONCLUSIONS: Published interventions to reduce the risk of HIV/AIDS among military personnel are effective under certain conditions and with a limited number of populations. We discuss problems inherent in such research and make recommendations to improve the development, evaluation, and dissemination of findings of comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programs among military populations.

• Population(s)
  • Other
• Prevention
  • Sexual risk behaviour
  • Education/media campaigns