Separation from accustomed community

Probably the single most important factor leading to high rates of HIV in the military is the practice of posting personnel far from their accustomed community or their families for long periods of time. Aside from the emotional stress this places on individuals, the practice encourages use of commercial sex. As a result, local sex industries grow in response to demand from military bases and units. It is a prime challenge to military establishments to re-think this traditional feature of operational practice in the light of health and social issues, both of which suggest the high value of finding ways to support stable family relationships and marriages. (Note that these issues must also be faced in relation to other people such as long-distance truck drivers, migratory workers and labourers, prisoners and refugees. For more information, see UNAIDS Best Practice documents “Prisons and AIDS” and “Refugees and AIDS”.)