HIV Seroconversion Rates Among United States Air Force Personnel, 1996-2007

Background: This study examines HIV seroconversion rates in order to ascertain the current burden of HIV in the Active Duty Air Force (ADAF), Air National Guard (ANG) and Air Force Reserve (AFR) populations. Rates among ADAF have not been examined since 1991 and rates among ANG and AFR members have not yet been examined.

Methods: HIV positive test results for ADAF, ANG, and AFR members tested between January 1, 1996 and December 31, 2007 were extracted from the HIV database, maintained by the Epidemiology Laboratory. Seroconversion rates, by gender and USAF component, were calculated as number of new HIV positive cases per number of individuals tested per year.

Results: Overall, 475 new HIV seroconversions occurred between 1996 and 2007 in the USAF. Overall, 3,201,152 HIV tests were performed during the same time period. Among persons seroconverting, 362 (76.21%) were ADAF, 47 (9.89%) were ANG, and 66 (13.89%) were AFR. Males accounted for 95.58% of cases (n=454). Individuals in the 25 to 34 age group accounted for 37.47% of cases (n=178). Cases were equally split between the non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic black populations at 46.8% and 46.6%, respectively (n=208, 207). Whites make up the majority of the Air Force population (73.5%), while blacks represent 14.7% of the Air Force population.

Conclusions: While both the AFR and ANG HIV seroprevelence rates have been decreasing over the last several years, the ADAF male HIV population has increased significantly. Further studies are necessary to ascertain reasons for the increase.