The impact of an educational film on promoting knowledge and attitudes toward HIV in soldiers of the Serbian Armed Forces

Željko P Jadranin; Gordana Dedić; Freda Vaughan; Michael Grillo; Vesna šuljagić

doi:10.2298/5579

Željko P Jadranin Institute of Epidemiology, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia
Gordana Dedić Department of Psychiatry Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia
Freda Vaughan Department of Defence HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, Unitetd States of America
Michael Grillo Department of Defence HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, Unitetd States of America
Vesna šuljagić Department for Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia; Faculty of Medicine of the Military Medical Academy, University of Defence, Belgrade, Serbia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2298/5579

Keywords: military personnel, hiv infections, education, motion pictures as topic,

Abstract

Background/Aim. Millions of soldiers around the world represent one of the most vulnerable populations regarding exposure to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. The programs for HIV prevention remain the most viable approach to reducing the spread of HIV infection. Very few studies have tested the effectiveness of HIV preventive interventions undertaken in military population. The aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of educational film to transfer knowledge about HIV infection to soldiers. Methods. We performed a quasi-experimental study among 102 soldiers of the Serbian Armed Forces. The experimental intervention consisted of the HIV knowledge pre-questionnaire, watching a film on HIV knowledge, then the post-HIV knowledge questionnaire. The results of pre-and post-HIV knowledge questionnaires were compared. Results. There were 23 questions in the test. The average total score on the questionnaire before watching the film was 18.23 and after watching it was 20.14, which was statistically significant difference (p < 0.001). Conclusions. The results of the study show that viewing a film on HIV infection is an effective method of transferring knowledge about HIV to the Serbian military population.

Author Biographies

Željko P Jadranin, Institute of Epidemiology, Military Medical Academy, Belgrade, Serbia

Institute of epidemiology

major

Freda Vaughan, Department of Defence HIV/AIDS Prevention Program (DHAPP), Naval Health Research Center (NHRC), San Diego, Unitetd States of America

None

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