Sexually Transmitted Infections - Prevalence, Knowledge and Behaviours among Professional Defence Forces in Estonia:...

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Military Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Previous research on military personnel shows varied results regarding STI prevalence and high-risk behaviors.
• There is a growing recognition of high-risk behaviors within military populations, leading to increased educational programs.
• Routine screening for diseases like HIV and viral hepatitis is common in militaries, particularly before deployment.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the occurrence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and associated risk behaviors among Estonian defense forces.
• To compare STI prevalence in the military with the non-military population.
• To inform potential screening strategies for military personnel.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study design was employed.
• Convenience sampling was used among professional defense forces.
• Participation was voluntary and anonymous.

Main Results:

• Out of 186 participants (7.3% of total forces), four cases of chlamydia were identified.
• No cases of gonorrhea, trichomoniasis, hepatitis C, hepatitis B, or HIV were detected.
• One participant reported a history of injecting drug use.

Conclusions:

• The study indicates a lower occurrence of STIs in Estonia's professional defense forces compared to the general population.
• The voluntary nature of the study might have excluded individuals with suspected STIs, potentially limiting generalizability.
• Militaries, especially those without regular screening, should consider implementing scheduled STI and blood-borne pathogen testing, particularly pre-deployment.