HIV Knowledge and Receipt of Targeted Training among UN Peacekeepers in a Post-Conflict Setting Open Access

Hast, Marisa (2011)

Permanent URL: https://etd.library.emory.edu/concern/etds/5d86p042m?locale=en%5D
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Abstract

HIV Knowledge and Receipt of Targeted Training among UN Peacekeepers in a Post-Conflict Setting

By

Marisa Hast

Background: UN Peacekeepers have been identified as a high-risk population that may
contribute to HIV transmission between their countries of origin and countries to which they are
deployed. In response to this concern, the United Nations Department of Peacekeeping
Operations (DPKO) has developed a standardized HIV training program administered to all
peacekeepers upon arrival in-country. In addition, pre-deployment HIV training is
recommended for militaries of countries that contribute peacekeepers for DPKO missions.
However, the impact of these trainings has not been assessed and very little is known about
peacekeepers' knowledge of HIV transmission and prevention.

Methods: The researchers examined the association between pre-and post-deployment HIV
trainings and comprehensive HIV knowledge among male English-speaking UN peacekeepers
stationed in Liberia in 2005. A total of 667 peacekeepers completed the survey. HIV knowledge
was measured as a composite score based on responses to five multi-part questions, and was
defined as 'comprehensive' if most components in all questions were answered correctly. We
used logistic models to calculate odds ratios reflecting the association between receipt of
training and comprehensive knowledge adjusted for age, rank, literacy, school level, history of
previous UN missions, and prior knowledge of someone with HIV.

Results: Of 667 peacekeepers surveyed, 83.1% and 76.2% had received pre-and post-
deployment HIV training, respectively, and 44.4% were determined to have comprehensive HIV
knowledge. Comprehensive HIV knowledge was not associated with either training type;
however it was found to be more common among younger participants and among those who
completed school above secondary level.

Conclusions: The results suggest that neither pre- nor post-deployment HIV training
significantly improves comprehensive HIV knowledge among UN peacekeepers. If confirmed,
our observations may have important implications for the current DPKO HIV training curriculum.


Table of Contents

Table of Contents

Introduction and Background ............................................................... 1
Methods........................................................................................... 5
Survey Design and Data Collection ........................................................ 5
Questionnaire and Outcome Measures .................................................... 6
Data analysis .................................................................................... 7
Results ............................................................................................ 8
Discussion ....................................................................................... 10
Conclusions and Recommendations ....................................................... 14
References ...................................................................................... 15
Tables..............................................................................................20
Appendix: IRB Approval and Study Questionnaire ..................................... 24


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