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Modeling Covariates of Self-Perceived and Epidemiologic Notions of Risk for Acquiring STIs/HIV among Military Personnel: A Comparative Analysis

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Abstract

This study examined the socio-demographic and selected behavioral characteristics associated with self-perceived and epidemiologic notions of risk for acquiring STIs/HIV infection using data from a cross-sectional survey involving 346 consenting female military personnel from two cantonments in Southwestern Nigeria. Findings revealed significant discordance in participants’ risk status based on the two assessment methods, with Kappa coefficients ranging from −0.021 to 0.115. Using epidemiologic assessment as the “gold standard”, 45.4% of the study population were able to accurately assess their risk levels through self-perception with significant (P < 0.01) socio-demographic variations. Multivariate logistic regression analyses indicate that STIs/HIV risk models using both self-perceived and epidemiologic notions of risk were significantly determined by different set of covariates. It is recommended that STIs/HIV prevention intervention should integrate the identified covariates and be targeted at changing individual risk behaviors and perceptions, as well as the social contexts in which risky behaviors occur in the military population.

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Acknowledgments

The authors are grateful to the study participants for sharing their time and perspective. This research was supported by a grant from the United States National Institute of Mental Health (Grant number RO1 MH073361-02). All authors reviewed and approved the final manuscript. The authors report no conflicts of interest with respect to authorship and/or publication of this article.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Community Health, University of Houston, Texas Medical Center, 1441 Moursund Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Osaro Mgbere, Emmanuel Monjok, Susan Abughosh & E. James Essien

  2. Houston Department of Health and Human Services, 8000 N. Stadium Drive, Houston, TX, 77054, USA

    Osaro Mgbere

  3. Institute for Health Research and Development, Yaba, Lagos, Nigeria

    Ernest Ekong

  4. Nell Hodgson School of Nursing, Emory University, 1520 Clifton Road, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA

    Marcia M. Holstad

  5. The University of Texas School of Public Health, 7000 Fannin Street, Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    E. James Essien

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  1. Osaro Mgbere
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  2. Emmanuel Monjok
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  3. Susan Abughosh
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  4. Ernest Ekong
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  6. E. James Essien
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Correspondence to E. James Essien.

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Mgbere, O., Monjok, E., Abughosh, S. et al. Modeling Covariates of Self-Perceived and Epidemiologic Notions of Risk for Acquiring STIs/HIV among Military Personnel: A Comparative Analysis. AIDS Behav 17, 1159–1175 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0126-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10461-011-0126-5

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