Fighting for Equality:  Equal Opportunity for Women in the Military?

This article presents a data set of the population of military students, resulting from a sociological study completed at the Colombian Military Academy (Escuela Militar de Cadetes General Jose Maria Cordova - ESMIC). By analyzing perceptions and attitudes of ESMIC’s students in six areas, namely, socio-demographic characteristics; professional behavior; social patterns; military values; civil-military relations; and integration of women in the military, this data set aims to provide scientific information to assist in the design, implementation, and effectiveness of the National Army of Colombia’s policies.

Download Full-text

The gap in contraceptive knowledge and use between the military and non-military populations of Kinshasa, DRC, 2016–2019

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0254915 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (7) ◽

pp. e0254915

Author(s):

Pierre Z. Akilimali ◽

Henri Engale Nzuka ◽

Katherine H. LaNasa ◽

Angéle Mavinga Wumba ◽

Patrick Kayembe ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Multivariate Analysis ◽

Reproductive Age ◽

Population Exposure ◽

Modern Contraceptive ◽

Military Population ◽

Women In The Military ◽

Contraceptive Knowledge ◽

Significant Difference ◽

Military Populations ◽

The Military

Introduction The objective of this study is to assess change over time in the modern contraceptive prevalence rate (MCPR) and related variables among married women of reproductive age (15–49 years) in the military population in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo, compared to women in the non-military population, based on cross-sectional surveys in 2016 and 2019. Methods Data among women living in military camps were collected as a special study of contraceptive knowledge, use, and exposure to FP messaging, for comparison to women in the non-military population from the annual PMA2020 survey. Both used a two-stage cluster sampling design to randomly select participants. This analysis is limited to women married or in union. Bivariate and multivariate analysis was used to compare the military and non-military populations. Results The socio-demographic profile of women in the military camps differed between 2016 and 2019, which may reflect the more mobile nature of this population. In both populations, knowledge of modern contraceptive methods increased significantly. Similarly, use of a modern contraceptive method also increased significantly in both, though by 2019 women in the military camps were less likely to use modern contraception (24.9%) than their non-military counterparts (29.7%). Multivariate analysis showed no significant difference in the amount of increase in MCPR for the two populations. Among contraceptive users in both populations, the implant was the leading method. Potential effects of FP programming were evident in the military population: exposure to FP messaging increased (in comparison to a decrease among the non-military population). Moreover, women who had lived in the camps for 4+ years had a higher MCPR than those living in the camps for less than four years. Conclusions This study demonstrates the feasibility and importance of collecting data in military camps for better understanding contraceptive dynamics among this specialized population.

Download Full-text