War & Health

IRIN has a story on the risk of HIV amongst former child soldiers through sex or drug abuse, particularly in Uganda. This phenomena, well studied in public health research literature, finds that both the ability of an individual to adapt (strong social connections, etc…) and the rate of change in their environment (social, economic, etc…) are powerful determinants of health. But, as far as I know, this research has not been extended into the developing world.

“We have found that in places like Sierra Leone, large numbers of demobilised child soldiers are increasingly injecting illegal drugs,” said Dr Josef Decosas, senior HIV policy adviser at Plan International, a development agency working for and with children. “And we know that as soon as HIV comes into a network of drug users it spreads like wildfire.”

He said recent research had shown that conflict tended to curb the spread of HIV by limiting movement and social interactions, but when wars ended these communities returned to normal and mobility increased, so HIV became a real issue.

“In Uganda, the HIV prevalence in the LRA [rebel Lord's Resistance Army] is thought to be quite low, but in northern Uganda’s local population it is quite high, so demobilised children need to be prepared to avoid HIV,” he said.