International military human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome policies and programs: Strengths and limitations in current practice

A survey was conducted to evaluate military human immunodeficiency virus/ac quired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV/AIDS) policies and programs in 119 co untries, Ninety-eight percent of the 62 respondents provide prevention educ ation, 95% in group settings but only 53% individually. Predeployment brief ings are more common than postdeployment briefings, Condoms are promoted mo re often than provided, Seventy-eight respondents report some form of manda tory HIV testing, and 58% perform mandatory recruit testing, with recruitme nt denied to HIV-positive individuals in 17%, Counseling accompanies mandat ory testing less than voluntary testing, In-service care for AIDS patients is universal. Many military prevention programs can be improved through pos tdeployment briefings and proactive interventions involving education, cond om distribution, and counseling combined with testing. Mandatory testing is often inconsistent with stated goals, and AIDS care policies may strain mi litary budgets, Testing based on cost-benefit assessments may increase effi ciency in military HIV control. Military budgets may benefit from greater c ivil-military cost sharing in AIDS care.