This finding is consistent with numerous studies in the U.S. civilian population (De, 2007; Fun et al., 2007; Hosenfeld et al., 2009). The findings also revealed that among African-American personnel, the risk of repeat infection is higher for men (hazard ratios = 2.17-2.41) than women (hazard ratios = 1.26-1.28). Such a difference was also noted by Barnett and Brundage (2000) after studying repeat chlamydia infections among U.S. Army personnel (hazard ratio for women = 1.13; hazard ratio for men = 1.82). It is possible that African-American military women are more responsive to STI prevention efforts than men due to the serious medical complications associated with STIs such as pelvic inflammatory disease. It is also possible that despite higher gonorrhea rates among women than men in the U.S. Army, sexual re-exposure to an untreated sex partner or unprotected sex with a new partner among men is more likely to occur among men than women. The validity of these arguments should be examined to develop gender-specific public health programs for gonorrhea control among military personnel, with the goal of preventing repeat STIs (Kissinger et al.,
This finding is consistent with numerous studies in the U.S. civilian population (De, 2007; Fun et al., 2007; Hosenfeld et al., 2009). The findings also revealed that among African-American personnel, the risk of repeat infection is higher for men (hazard ratios = 2.17-2.41) than women (hazard ratios = 1.26-1.28). Such a difference was also noted by Barnett and Brundage (2000) after studying repeat chlamydia infections among U.S. Army personnel (hazard ratio for women = 1.13; hazard ratio for men = 1.82). It is possible that African-American military women are more responsive to STI prevention efforts than men due to the serious medical complications associated with STIs such as pelvic inflammatory disease. It is also possible that despite higher gonorrhea rates among women than men in the U.S. Army, sexual re-exposure to an untreated sex partner or unprotected sex with a new partner among men is more likely to occur among men than women. The validity of these arguments should be examined to develop gender-specific public health programs for gonorrhea control among military personnel, with the goal of preventing repeat STIs (Kissinger et al.,