Nightingale Vienna R, Tran Bonnie R, Harbertson Judith, Langa Antonio, Grillo Michael, Kalombo Olivier, Thomas Anne G
Defense Health Headquarters, Health Services Policy & Oversight, 7700 Arlington Blvd., Falls Church, VA 22042. United States.
Curr HIV Res. 2017;15(2):116-127. doi: 10.2174/1570162x15666170517100503.
While sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) is recognized as an important factor driving the HIV epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa, attitudes toward and prevalence of SGBV within sub-Saharan African military populations are unknown. Data on SGBV were collected from military service members of nine sub-Saharan African militaries. Attitudes related to SGBV and characteristics of those who commit and experience SGBV are reported.
Data for 8815 service members (8165 men and 650 women) aged 18 years or older who voluntarily participated in the Seroprevalence and Behavioral Epidemiology Risk Surveys from 2009 to 2014 were included in this secondary data analysis. Data were collected on demographics, HIV prevalence, SGBV attitudes, and experiences. Descriptive and bivariate statistical analyses were performed.
5% of men and 9% of women reported experiencing SGBV, and 6% of men reported they had ever committed SGBV. Men and women who had experienced SGBV were significantly more likely to agree with negative gender attitudes toward SGBV, and the majority of those who reported experiencing SGBV reported that SGBV was committed by someone outside of the military.
This is the first study to examine SGBV in sub-Saharan military populations during periods of limited conflict. It provides evidence that SGBV is experienced by both male and female service members at rates not typically found in previous research examining SGBV in other military populations. A better understanding of SGBV in sub-Saharan military service members is necessary to ensure appropriate services and interventions are part of the military infrastructure.
虽然性暴力和基于性别的暴力(SGBV)被认为是推动撒哈拉以南非洲地区艾滋病毒流行的一个重要因素,但撒哈拉以南非洲军事人口对SGBV的态度和SGBV的流行情况尚不清楚。从撒哈拉以南非洲九个国家的军人中收集了有关SGBV的数据。报告了与SGBV相关的态度以及实施和经历SGBV者的特征。
这项二次数据分析纳入了2009年至2014年自愿参加血清流行率和行为流行病学风险调查的8815名18岁及以上的军人(8165名男性和650名女性)的数据。收集了有关人口统计学、艾滋病毒流行率、对SGBV的态度和经历的数据。进行了描述性和双变量统计分析。
5%的男性和9%的女性报告曾经历过SGBV,6%的男性报告曾实施过SGBV。经历过SGBV的男性和女性更有可能认同对SGBV的负面性别态度,而且大多数报告经历过SGBV的人表示SGBV是由军队以外的人实施的。
这是第一项在冲突有限时期对撒哈拉以南非洲军事人口中的SGBV进行研究的研究。它提供了证据表明,男性和女性军人都经历过SGBV,其发生率在以往对其他军事人口中SGBV的研究中并不常见。有必要更好地了解撒哈拉以南非洲军人中的SGBV,以确保适当的服务和干预措施成为军事基础设施的一部分。