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The U.S. Navy sees HIV infection rate rise
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A U.S. Navy hat.
The U.S. Navy sees HIV infection rate rise among its sailors. In 2008, the U.S. Navy’s HIV infection rate was already higher than any other branch of the U.S. military. The navy made a diagnosis of 36 new HIV cases per 100,000 sailors tested in 2008. Navy officials can offer no explanation for the rise in HIV infection. The rate has doubled since 1999 for the Navy. The U.S. Navy claim they know why most HIV positive sailors became infected with HIV, and that was from unprotected sex, not intravenous (IV) drug use.
Dr. Rick Shaffer, who heads the Department of Defense’s HIV/AIDS program in San Diego said in a statement, “the military personnel have become like the general population and no longer are as fearful of HIV as they were in the early years of the epidemic.” Dr. Shaffer went on to say, “whether fearful or more optimistic, HIV transmission can be controlled, people may also be less willing to use condoms.”
Across the military, the rate of condom users is about 50% according to Pentagon figures. A survey taken in 2005, found that just under half of sexually active unmarried sailors used a condom with their last partner. Unmarried officers condom usage decreased from 40% in 2002 to 30% in 2005. Women in the navy reported a slight decrease in condom use in the same period of time.
A study is being done to analyze the use of alcohol and its connection with HIV infection in the military. Dr. Shaffer said, “servicemen who are ‘sort of drunk’ are especially worrisome, because they tend to lose their inhibitions about risk whereas the ‘overly drunk’ have more limited sexual function.”
The Navy does not keep any information on the costs associated with HIV. The Navy has mentioned a study’s estimate that a year of treatment costs $14,000.00 to $37,000.00. That would make the 560 sailors in HIV treatment cost between 7.8 million to 20.2 million dollars.
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