Inconsistent condom use among women veterans and active duty servicewomen.

摘要

The recently published editorial by Ingham highlights the importance of ascertaining aetiologies of misuse of condoms, to plan and implement effective public health interventions. Crosby et al outline a prospective study demonstrating the effectiveness of condoms when used consistently and properly to considerably lower the acquisition of non-viral sexually transmitted diseases. The authors also address the global problem of incomplete and improper use of condoms requiring targeted education for improvement. Another recently published article discusses inconsistency of condom use and its ramifications. Goyal et al have focused on high-risk behaviour and sexually transmitted infections among US active duty service-women and veterans. The authors state that the group of unmarried, young and new to military service, in particular, inconsistently use condoms resulting in greater probability of acquisition of sexually transmitted infections. Potential barriers to condom use for these women have been proposed and include being stigmatised as promiscuous if requesting condoms, and evidence of violation of the military policy prohibiting sexual intercourse during deployment. Binge drinking by women in the military may also be resulting in inconsistent use of condoms with resulting unwanted pregnancies and greater incidence of sexually transmitted infections. The rate of chlamydial infection in female active duty soldiers is significantly greater than in comparative groups of women in the general population.