Association between HIV Prevention Literacy and HIV-Infected Risk Behaviors among Military Conscripts
Keywords:
HIV-Infected Risk Behaviors, HIV Prevention Literacy, Military ConscriptsAbstract
This study aimed to examine the association between Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) prevention literacy and HIV risk behaviors among military conscripts. A sample of 165 conscripts was selected by simple random sampling. The research instruments included an HIV prevention literacy questionnaire and an HIV risk behavior questionnaire, with content validity index (CVI) values of 0.87 and 0.88, respectively, and Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficients of 0.81 and 0.98, respectively. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, means and standard deviations, and Pearson’s product-moment correlation coefficients.
The findings revealed that overall, HIV prevention literacy was significantly and negatively correlated with HIV risk behaviors (r = -0.200, p < .01). Specifically, questioning, assessing, application, and decision-making skills demonstrated significant negative correlations with risk behaviors (r = -0.209, -0.208, -0.201, -0.192; p < .01). Additionally, understanding skills were negatively correlated with HIV risk behaviors (r = -0.137, p < .05). The results indicate that enhancing HIV prevention literacy, particularly emphasizing inquiry, access, application, and decision-making competencies, is crucial for reducing sexual risk behaviors among military conscripts, providing practical guidance for prevention strategies.
Downloads
References
World Health Organization. HIV and AIDS. 2024.
Rangsin R, Kana K, & Chuenchitra T, Sunantarod A, Mungthin M, Meesiri S, et al. Risk factors for HIV infection among young Thai men during 2005–2009. PloS one. 2015;10(8):1-12.
Saengdidtha B, & Rangsin R. Risk Factors for HIV Infection among Thai Young Men Aged 21-23 Years. Epidemiology. 2016.
Nelson KE, & Rangsin R. The Importance of Military Conscripts for Surveillance of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and Risk Behavior in Thailand. Current HIV Research. 2017;15(3):161-9.
Julawong O. Exploring Risky Behaviors Related to HIV Infection in Thai Army Conscripts. Journal of The Royal Thai Army Nurses. 2014;14(3):142-50. (in Thai)
Surit P, Jariya W, Zheng N, Yi H, Yu X, Srithong W, et al. Risk factors affecting condom use among Royal Thai Army conscripts in Thailand. World Journal of AIDS. 2017;7(2):92-105.
Bureau of Epidemiology. Behavioral surveillance survey report related to HIV infection among conscripts, male and female workers in establishments, Thailand, 2017. Nonthaburi: Department of Disease Control; 2017. Thai.
Nutbeam D. Health literacy as a public health goal: a challenge for contemporary health education and communication strategies into the 21st century. Health Promotion International. 2000;15(3):259-67.
Liu R, Xu K, Zhang X, Cheng F, Gao L, & Xu J. HIV-Related Knowledge and Sexual Behaviors among Teenagers: Implications for Public Health Interventions. Children. 2023;10(7):1-11.
Tran BR, Davis A, Sloan M, Macera C, Mbuyi AM, & Kabanda GK. Alcohol use and sexual risk behaviors in the Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Bio Med Central Public Health. 2019;19(1):1-19.
Vargas SE, Kade T, Colby N, Galen G, F. CM, Leslie R, et al. Sexual and reproductive health in military settings: A qualitative study. Military Psychology. 2025;37(2):138-47.
Singkun A, Kallawicha K, & Yamarat K. Risk of HIV/ STIs among Muslim army conscripts in the three deep southern provinces of Thailand. Health Promot Perspect. 2021;11(4):444-51.
Kaeodumkoeng K, & Junhasobhaga J. A development and testing of health literacy on disease prevention and control assessment form for public health officers. Romphruek Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences. 2021;39(2):193-220.
Berhan Y, & Berhan A. A Meta-Analysis of Risky Sexual Behaviour among Male Youth in Developing Countries. AIDS Research and Treatment. 2015;1(1)1-9.
Faul F, Erdfelder E, Buchner A, & Lang A-G. Statistical power analyses using G*Power 3.1: Tests for correlation and regression analyses. Behavior Research Methods. 2009;41(4): 1149-60.
Waltz CF, Strickland OL, & Lenz ER. Measurement in Nursing and Health Research. 5 thed. New York: Springer Publishing Company; 2017.
Nishiyama M, Sillabutra J, & Sermsri S. Sexual risk behavior on HIV infection among military conscripts in Nahon Phanom. Journal of Public Health and Development. 2008;6(1): 62-70.
Donghong S, Srisuriyawet R, & Homsin P. Factors Related to Health Literacy Among Military Conscripts in Chon-Buri Province. The Journal of Faculty of Nursing Burapha University. 2021;29(2):13-23.
Diana P, & Esposito S. Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention strategies of HIV, HPV, and other sexually transmitted infections among cisgender and transgender youth: a narrative review. Front Public Health. 2024.
Sookpool A, Kingmala C, Pangsuk P, Yeanyoun T, & Wongmun W. Effectiveness of health literacy and health behavior development program for working people. Journal of Health Science. 2020;29(3):419-29.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Journal of The Royal Thai Army Nurses
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
บทความหรือข้อคิดเห็นใดใดที่ปรากฏในวารสารพยาบาลทหารบกเป็นวรรณกรรมของผู้เขียน ซึ่งบรรณาธิการหรือสมาคมพยาบาลทหารบก ไม่จำเป็นต้องเห็นด้วย
บทความที่ได้รับการตีพิมพ์เป็นลิขสิทธิ์ของวารสารพยาบาลทหารบก
The ideas and opinions expressed in the Journal of The Royal Thai Army Nurses are those of the authors and not necessarily those
of the editor or Royal Thai Army Nurses Association.
