       Document 2481
 DOCN  M94A2481
 TI    HIV-1 infection in young Thai men discharged from the Army.
 DT    9412
 AU    Renzullo P; Beyrer C; Nelson K; Celentano D; Eiumtrakul S; Khamboonruang
       C; WRAIR, Washington, DC.
 SO    Int Conf AIDS. 1994 Aug 7-12;10(1):294 (abstract no. PC0104). Unique
       Identifier : AIDSLINE ICA10/94370094
 AB    OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to follow a cohort of Royal Thai Army
       (RTA) conscripts after completion of their military service to assess
       risk for HIV infection and changes in behaviors associated with HIV
       infection upon returning to civilian life. METHODS: Subjects were
       selected from among 566 RTA conscripts who participated in a study of
       HIV infection risk while in the army. Three months after discharge
       subjects returned to one of 4 sites where Thai male interviewers
       administered surveys on demographics, medical history, STDs and sexual
       activity. Relationships between exposures and HIV status were assessed
       with chi-square tests for trend, odds ratios (OR) [95% confidence
       intervals (CI)] and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: A total of
       556 (98.2%) men agreed to participate in the study. Of these, 361 (65%)
       men returned for baseline interviews. Fifty (13.1%) men were HIV-Ab
       positive before discharge and 4 (1.1%) seroconverted during the 3 months
       since discharge. Ever having had an STD (OR = 6.4; 95% CI = 3.3-12.2)
       and ever having had an HIV+ sex partner (OR = 2.2; 95% CI = 1.2-4.4)
       were associated with increased risk of being HIV+. Lifetime number of
       sex partners was associated with HIV infection (OR = 1.6; 95% CI =
       1.2-2.2), with 21-50 partners conferring the most risk (OR = 6.1; 95% CI
       = 1.4-27.1). Since discharge, 63% of HIV+ and HIV- men reported no
       visits to commercial sex workers (CSWs), with 7.4% of HIV+ and 1.5% of
       HIV- men reporting less frequent condom use. CONCLUSION: This study is
       on-going. Results confirm the representativeness of and ability to
       follow this cohort of discharged soldiers. Studies of this nature can
       monitor the maturing HIV infection epidemic in Thailand, and identify
       and evaluate HIV-1 interventions. Finally, the ability to identify,
       recruit and follow cohorts is vital for evaluating candidate HIV-1
       vaccines as they become available.
 DE    Cohort Studies  Human  HIV
       Infections/DIAGNOSIS/EPIDEMIOLOGY/*TRANSMISSION  HIV
       Seropositivity/EPIDEMIOLOGY  *HIV-1  Male  *Military Personnel  Risk
       Factors  Thailand/EPIDEMIOLOGY  MEETING ABSTRACT

       SOURCE: National Library of Medicine.  NOTICE: This material may be
       protected by Copyright Law (Title 17, U.S.Code).

