Introduction: The analysis of sexual behavior and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among military personnel involves not only understanding factors such as cultural and social norms, but also the specific aspects of the military's work environment. Studies on sexual behavior and practices that seek to better understand the exercise of sexuality within the military are extremely important as they can help guide healthy sexuality practices and develop intervention strategies to prevent and combat STIs. Aim: To analyze sexual behavior and the risks associated with sexually transmitted infections in Mozambican military personnel. Methodology: A total of 177 military personnel of both sexes took part in the study, including officers, sargent and private soldier. The sampling process was snowball type. Data was collected using the Brazilian Youth Questionnaire - Phase II Version (Dell'Aglio et al., 2011), adapted to the reality and objectives of this research, made in the googleform system and sent to the subjects, with the respective explanations and informed consent form for non-identifiable self-administration. Result: The majority of subjects had an active sex life and had been involved in at least one risky sexual practice and 14.1% showed signs or symptoms of STI infection. Risky sexual behavior had a significant association with the presence of signs of STI infection. Irregular condom use, sex for money and sex after drinking were predictors of STI infection. Conclusion: Risk sexual behavior was present in the lives of most military personnel, with greater emphasis on sex without a condom and multiple partners, which may largely explain the presence of signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections.
| Published in | Central African Journal of Public Health (Volume 11, Issue 3) |
| DOI | 10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12 |
| Page(s) | 102-112 |
| Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
| Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2025. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Military, Sexual Behavior, Sexual Transmission Infection
| [1] | Falcão-Júnior JSP, Rabelo STO, Lopes EM, Freitas LV, Pinheiro AKB, Ximenes LB. Perfil e práticas sexuais de universitários da área da saúde. Esc Anna Nery. 2007; 11(1): 58-65. |
| [2] | Chinazzo, I. R., Câmara, S. G., Frantz, D. G. Comportamento sexual de risco em jovens: aspectos cognitivos e emocionais. Fascículo. Psico-USF 19 (1) 2014 p. 1-12. |
| [3] | LMarques, F. Z. C., Chedid, S. B., Eizerik, G. C. Resposta sexual humana. Revista de Ciências Médicas 2008. v. 17, n. 3-6, p. 175-183. |
| [4] | Oliveira, C. R. F.; Filho E. G. R.; Candido R. C. L.; Souto R. D.; Cassimiro R. D.; Jesus S. B. Comportamento sexual de acadêmicos de medicina de uma instituição de ensino privada do Centro-Oeste brasileiro. Anápolis, Goiás. 2020. |
| [5] | Calazans, G. J.; Pinheiro, T. F.; Ayres, J. R. C. M. Programmatic vulnerability and public care: Overview of HIV and Aids prevention policies for gay and other MSM in Brazil. Sexualidad, Salud y Sociedad, 2018; (29): 263-93. |
| [6] | Damacena, G. N.; Szwarcwald, C. L., DA Motta, L, R., Kato, S, K.; Adami, A. G.; Paganella, M. P.; Pereira, G. F. M.;, Sperhacke, R. D. Retrato do comportamento de risco dos conscritos do Exército brasileiro à infecção pelo HIV por macrorregiões brasileiras, 2016. REV BRAS EPIDEMIOL; 22(SUPPL 1): E190009.Supl. 2019. |
| [7] | Directorate of Force Health Protection. Trends in pre-military sexually transmitted infections and associated risk behaviours in Canadian Armed Forces recruits. Department of National Defence. Canada Communicable Disease Report. Volume 46, Number 9, 2020, pp. 272-278. |
| [8] | Loobya, A., Bravob, A. J., Kilweina, T. M., Zimmermana, L., Pearsonb, M. R.; and Protective Strategies Study Team. Alcohol-related Protective Behavioral Strategies as a Mediator of the Relationship between Drinking Motives and Risky Sexual Behaviors. 2019 June; 93: 1–8. |
| [9] | Ministério da Saúde (MISAU), Direcção Nacional de Saúde Pública, PNC ITS - HIV/SIDA, Plano Estratégico de Acção para a Prevenção e Controlo das Infecções de Transmissão Sexual 2018-2021. Maputo. 2018. |
| [10] | Dell’Aglio, D. D., Koller, S. H., Cerqueira-Santos, E., & Colaço, V. F. Revisando o Questionário da Juventude Brasileira: Uma nova proposta. In D. D. Dell'Aglio & S. H. Koller (Orgs.), Adolescência e juventude: Vulnerabilidade e contextos de proteção. (2011). pp. 259-270. São Paulo: Casa do Psicólogo. |
| [11] | Dourado, C. A. R. O., De Lima, M. C. L., Da Silva, M. A. S., Pinho, C. M., Andrade, M. S. Comportamento sexual inseguro como preditor da vulnerabilidade individual ao HIV em militares das forças armadas brasileiras. REAS. 2024. Vol. 24(5). |
| [12] | Oliveira, A. P., Costa R, P. Transversalização de gênero nas forças armadas brasileiras: uma abordagem multicultural. Revista da Escola Superior de Guerra. 2019. 34 (71): 31-58. |
| [13] | Stahlman, S., Javanbakht, M., Cochran, S., Hamilton, A. B., Shoptaw, S., Gorbach, P. M. Self-Reported STIs and Sexual Risk Behaviors in the U.S. Military: How Gender Influences Risk. Sex Transm Dis. 2014 June; 41(6): 359–364. |
| [14] | Triplett, D. P., Harbertson, J., Hale, B. Sexually transmissible infections and sexual risk behaviour among deployed, ship-assigned USA Navy and Marine Corps personnel. Sex Health. 2021 May; 18(2): 162-171. |
| [15] | Azeez, N., Usman, A. B., Stephen, A. A., Jibo, A. M., Iliyasu, Z. Risky Sexual Behaviour among Male Immigration and Correctional Personnel in Kano State, Nigeria, PREPRINT Research Square. 2018. |
| [16] | Evans, M. W., Borrero, S., Yabes, J., Rosenfeld, E. A. Sexual Behaviors and Sexually Transmitted Infections Among Male Veterans and Nonveterans. Am J Mens Health. 2017 Jul; 11(4): 791-800. |
| [17] | Gottwald, C., Schwarz, N. G., Frickmann, H. Sexually Transmitted Infections in Soldiers – A Cross-Sectional Assessment in German Paratroopers and Navy Soldiers and a Literature Review. European Journal of Microbiology and Immunology. 2019. 4, pp. 138–143. |
| [18] | Nascimento, B. S., Spindola, T., Pimentel, M. R. A. R., Ramos, R. C. A., Costa, R. S., Teixeira, R. S. Comportamento sexual de jovens universitários e o cuidado com a saúde sexual e reprodutiva. Enfermería Global Nº 49 Enero 2018. |
| [19] | Sales, W. B., Caveião, C., Visentin, A., Mocelin, D., Da Costa, P. M., Simm, E. B. Comportamento sexual de risco e conhecimento sobre IST/SIDA em universitários da saúde. Revista de Enfermagem Referência. Série IV - n.° 10 - jul./ago./set. 2016. |
| [20] | Martins DC, Pesce GB, Silva GM, Fernandes CAM. Comportamento sexual e infecções sexualmente transmissíveis em mulheres de apenados. Rev. Latino-Am. Enfermagem. 2018; 26: e3043. |
| [21] | Adetoro, A. A., Adebayo, A. M., Atariata, O. A. Sexual risk behaviours and compulsive sexual behaviour disorders among military personnel in ibadan. Ann Ib Postgrad Med. 2023 Dec; 21(3): 10-19. Epub 2024 Jan 30. PMID: 38706620; PMCID: PMC11065191. |
| [22] | Trepka, M. J., Kim, S. Pekovic, V., Zamor, P., Velez, E., Gabaroni, M. V. High-Risk Sexual Behavior Among Students of a Minority-Serving University in a Community With a High HIV/AIDS Prevalence, Journal of American College Health. 2008. 57:1, 77-84, |
| [23] | Gräf, D. D., Mesenburg, M. A., Fassa, A. G. Comportamento sexual de risco e fatores associados em universitários de uma cidade do Sul do Brasil. Rev Saude Publica. 2020; 54: 41. |
| [24] | Singkun A., Kallawicha K., Yamarat K. Risk of HIV/STIs among Muslim army conscripts in the three deep southern provinces of Thailand. Health Promotion Perspectives, 2021, 11(4), 444-451. |
| [25] | Barbosa R. M.; Koyama M. A. H. Comportamento e práticas sexuais de homens e mulheres, Brasil 1998 e 2005. Rev. Saúde Pública 2008; 42 (Supl 1): 21-33. |
| [26] | Aldous, W. K., Robertson, J. L., Robinson, B. J., Hatcher, C. L., Hospenthal, D. R., Conger, N. G., & Murray, C. K.. Rates of gonorrhea and chlamydia in U.S. military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan (2004-2009). Military Medicine. 2011. 176, 705-710. |
APA Style
Chirindza, N. A. T., Uate, N. R., Mangona, L. B. M. (2025). Sexual Behavior and Risk of STI Infections in Mozambican Military Personnel. Central African Journal of Public Health, 11(3), 102-112. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12
ACS Style
Chirindza, N. A. T.; Uate, N. R.; Mangona, L. B. M. Sexual Behavior and Risk of STI Infections in Mozambican Military Personnel. Cent. Afr. J. Public Health 2025, 11(3), 102-112. doi: 10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12
Share This Article
Twitter
Linked In
Facebook
Copy
Download@article{10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12,
author = {Nivaldo António Tomo Chirindza and Nelson Raul Uate and Lucilia Bernardino Marrinze Mangona},
title = {Sexual Behavior and Risk of STI Infections in Mozambican Military Personnel
},
journal = {Central African Journal of Public Health},
volume = {11},
number = {3},
pages = {102-112},
doi = {10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12},
url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12},
eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.cajph.20251103.12},
abstract = {Introduction: The analysis of sexual behavior and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among military personnel involves not only understanding factors such as cultural and social norms, but also the specific aspects of the military's work environment. Studies on sexual behavior and practices that seek to better understand the exercise of sexuality within the military are extremely important as they can help guide healthy sexuality practices and develop intervention strategies to prevent and combat STIs. Aim: To analyze sexual behavior and the risks associated with sexually transmitted infections in Mozambican military personnel. Methodology: A total of 177 military personnel of both sexes took part in the study, including officers, sargent and private soldier. The sampling process was snowball type. Data was collected using the Brazilian Youth Questionnaire - Phase II Version (Dell'Aglio et al., 2011), adapted to the reality and objectives of this research, made in the googleform system and sent to the subjects, with the respective explanations and informed consent form for non-identifiable self-administration. Result: The majority of subjects had an active sex life and had been involved in at least one risky sexual practice and 14.1% showed signs or symptoms of STI infection. Risky sexual behavior had a significant association with the presence of signs of STI infection. Irregular condom use, sex for money and sex after drinking were predictors of STI infection. Conclusion: Risk sexual behavior was present in the lives of most military personnel, with greater emphasis on sex without a condom and multiple partners, which may largely explain the presence of signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections.
},
year = {2025}
}
TY - JOUR T1 - Sexual Behavior and Risk of STI Infections in Mozambican Military Personnel AU - Nivaldo António Tomo Chirindza AU - Nelson Raul Uate AU - Lucilia Bernardino Marrinze Mangona Y1 - 2025/06/12 PY - 2025 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12 DO - 10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12 T2 - Central African Journal of Public Health JF - Central African Journal of Public Health JO - Central African Journal of Public Health SP - 102 EP - 112 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2575-5781 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.cajph.20251103.12 AB - Introduction: The analysis of sexual behavior and the risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among military personnel involves not only understanding factors such as cultural and social norms, but also the specific aspects of the military's work environment. Studies on sexual behavior and practices that seek to better understand the exercise of sexuality within the military are extremely important as they can help guide healthy sexuality practices and develop intervention strategies to prevent and combat STIs. Aim: To analyze sexual behavior and the risks associated with sexually transmitted infections in Mozambican military personnel. Methodology: A total of 177 military personnel of both sexes took part in the study, including officers, sargent and private soldier. The sampling process was snowball type. Data was collected using the Brazilian Youth Questionnaire - Phase II Version (Dell'Aglio et al., 2011), adapted to the reality and objectives of this research, made in the googleform system and sent to the subjects, with the respective explanations and informed consent form for non-identifiable self-administration. Result: The majority of subjects had an active sex life and had been involved in at least one risky sexual practice and 14.1% showed signs or symptoms of STI infection. Risky sexual behavior had a significant association with the presence of signs of STI infection. Irregular condom use, sex for money and sex after drinking were predictors of STI infection. Conclusion: Risk sexual behavior was present in the lives of most military personnel, with greater emphasis on sex without a condom and multiple partners, which may largely explain the presence of signs or symptoms of sexually transmitted infections. VL - 11 IS - 3 ER -
Public Health and Physical Activity Department, Ministry of National Defence, Maputo City, Mozambique
Health Department, Centro de Colaboração em Saúde (CCS), Maputo City, Mozambique
Phycal Activity and Health Department, Eduardo Mondlane University, Maputo City, Mozambique
Information