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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Recorded presentation

Rose Thelus, BS, Epidemiology, University of Texas MD Anderson, 1515 Holcombe, Houston, TX 77030, (713)563-0364, Rosenie.Thelus@uth.tmc.edu, Michael W. Ross, PhD, WHO Center for Health Promotion Research and Development, The University of Texas - Houston School of Public Health, PO Box 20186, Houston, TX 77225, and Judith Lahai-Momoh, MPH, Saving Lives through Alternative Options, 9898 Bissonnet street, suite 470, Houston, TX 77036.

Background: Initiated by the Revolutionary United Front in 1991, the 10-year civil war in Sierra Leone has resulted in large-scale atrocities against civilians, with death tolls in the thousands. The impact of this type of violence on HIV/AIDS education and perceptions is not well understood.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 399 students attending high school in Bo and Pujehun, Sierra Leone to explore, the association between armed conflict and HIV risk taking behavior among youths11-16 years old.

Results: More than 90% of the students had been exposed to at least one war event: 27% had been raped or sexually assaulted, 45% had participated in direct combat, 57% had been physically abused as a child, 69% had experienced death of a close family member and 70% had seen someone seriously injured or violently killed. HIV risk-taking behavior was low, less than 15% were considered to be at moderate to high risk based on sexual activity and the use of condoms. Because of the small number of students categorized as high-risk takers, no significant association was found between exposure to armed conflict events and HIV risk-taking behavior.

Discussion: To our knowledge, this is the first study to provide preliminary information about the impact of armed conflict on HIV prevention among youth in post-war Sierra Leone. More intensive population-based research is needed to prevent future HIV outbreaks among countries suffering from armed conflict.

Learning Objectives:

• At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to recognize the 1)gravity of armed conflict events among youth. 2)Develop an understanding of the impact that armed conflict play on HIV infection. 3)Identify ways to appropriately intervene to ameliorate the situation among this population.

Keywords: Adolescents, International, HIV Risk Behavior

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation