ArticleBMC infectious diseases2012
Cross-sectional assessment of prevalence and correlates of blood-borne and sexually-transmitted infections among Afghan National Army recruits.
Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2012. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
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8 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it, 16 citations in OpenAlex.
- HIV epidemiology among female sex workers and their clients in the Middle East and North Africa: systematic review, meta-analyses, and meta-regressions.BMC medicine · 2019Pooled it
- Towards universal voluntary HIV testing and counselling: a systematic review and meta-analysis of community-based approaches.PLoS medicine · 2013Pooled it
- Prevalence of CMV, EBV, HPV, and HSV among South Asian healthy population: A systematic review and meta-analysis.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Seroprevalence of Hepatitis B and C Viruses and Their Associated Factors Among Military Personnel at Military Camps in Central Gondar, Ethiopia: A Cross-Sectional Study.Infection and drug resistance · 2024Article
- Sexually Transmitted Infections in Soldiers - A Cross-Sectional Assessment in German Paratroopers and Navy Soldiers and a Literature Review.European journal of microbiology & immunology · 2019Article
- A survey of knowledge about hepatitis B among new military recruits in China.Military Medical Research · 2017Article
- Prevalence of hepatitis B and C viruses infection among military personnel at Bahir Dar Armed Forces General Hospital, Ethiopia.BMC research notes · 2015Article
- Prevalence of hepatitis B and C virus infections among military personnel.The Brazilian journal of infectious diseases : an official publication of the Brazilian Society of Infectious DiseasesArticle
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Authors and funding
10 authors at 6 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundFew data are available in Afghanistan to shape national military force health practices, particularly with regard to sexually-transmitted infections (STIs). We measured prevalence and correlates of HIV, syphilis, herpes simplex 2 virus (HSV-2), and hepatitis C virus (HCV) among Afghan National Army (ANA) recruits.
methodsA cross-sectional sample of male ANA recruits aged 18-35 years were randomly selected at the Kabul Military Training Center between February 2010 and January 2011. Participants completed an interviewer-administered questionnaire and serum-based rapid testing for syphilis and hepatitis C virus antibody on-site; HIV and HSV-2 screening, and confirmatory testing were performed off-site. Prevalence of each infection was calculated and logistic regression analysis performed to identify correlates.
resultsOf 5313 recruits approached, 4750 consented to participation. Participants had a mean age of 21.8 years (SD±3.8), 65.5% had lived outside Afghanistan, and 44.3% had no formal education. Few reported prior marijuana (16.3%), alcohol (5.3%), or opiate (3.4%) use. Of sexually active recruits (58.7%, N = 2786), 21.3% reported paying women for sex and 21.3% reported sex with males. Prevalence of HIV (0.063%, 95% CI: 0.013- 0.19), syphilis (0.65%, 95% CI: 0.44 - 0.93), and HCV (0.82%, 95% CI: 0.58 - 1.12) were quite low. Prevalence of HSV-2 was 3.03% (95% CI: 2.56 - 3.57), which was independently associated with age (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 1.04, 95% CI: 1.00 - 1.09) and having a television (socioeconomic marker) (AOR = 1.46, 95% CI: 1.03 - 2.05).
conclusionThough prevalence of HIV, HCV, syphilis, and HSV-2 was low, sexual risk behaviors and intoxicant use were present among a substantial minority, indicating need for prevention programming. Formative work is needed to determine a culturally appropriate approach for prevention programming to reduce STI risk among Afghan National Army troops.
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