Medical and Statistical Overview of Socially Significant Infectious Diseases Among Female Servicemembers of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation (2012–2021)

BACKGROUND: Socially significant diseases are conditions that pose a threat to public health because of their high prevalence, temporary or permanent disability rates, elevated mortality, and substantial costs associated with prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation. In military healthcare, comprehending the trends of infectious morbidity among female servicemembers is still a critical concern.

AIM: This study aimed to analyze clinical characteristics of selected socially significant infectious diseases—tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection—among female servicemembers during a ten-year period (2012–2021).

METHODS: Using data from medical reports (Form 3/MED) and annual reports (Form 4/MED) from 2012 to 2021, the Department of Public Health and Healthcare Organization at the S.M. Kirov Military Medical Academy analyzed the primary and hospital morbidity, work loss, and discharge rates among female servicemembers diagnosed with tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and HIV infection. The study also analyzed open-access statistical data on morbidity in the Russian Armed Forces. Diseases and diagnostic categories were coded in accordance with the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revision.

RESULTS: Tuberculosis, viral hepatitis, and HIV infection together accounted for approximately 4.7% of primary morbidity due to class I diseases. The average long-term incidence rates per 100,000 were 13.9 for tuberculosis, 34.9 for viral hepatitis, and 6.1 for HIV infection, corresponding to 1.2%, 3%, and 0.5% of the class I disease structure, respectively (4.7% in total). Primary morbidity among female service members was lower by factors of 4.2 (tuberculosis), 2.2 (hepatitis), and 10.3 (HIV) than the Russian general population. The average long-term discharge rates per 100,000 servicewomen were 3.7 for tuberculosis, 9.7 for viral hepatitis, and 4.1 for HIV infection, accounting for 13.9%, 34.2%, and 15.2% of total discharges within class I diseases, respectively—63.3% in total.

CONCLUSION: According to reportable morbidity types, a relatively low incidence of socially significant diseases was observed among female servicemembers. A disproportionately high percentage of discharges and deaths were caused by HIV infection. The documented rise in hospital morbidity, work loss, and mortality among female servicemembers due to HIV infection suggests delayed access to medical care. Key strategies for preventing these socially significant diseases include enhancing personal moral and medical literacy, promoting healthy lifestyles and health-preserving behavior, maintaining general hygiene, using barrier contraception, avoiding drug use, and ensuring timely access to medical care.