Open AccessJournal Article
Counseling and Harm Reduction Centers for Vulnerable Women to HIV/AIDS in Iran.
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Since vulnerable women play a critical role to spread HIV-epidemic to general population, increasing centers provide more access to this population.Abstract:
Background: Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a public health challenge facing both developing and developed nations. Although injecting drug use is even the main route of HIV transmission in Iran, sexual route is rising gradually. Vulnerable women have been considered as important bridging population for driving HIV epidemics. To increase the access to vulnerable women, in 2007, 5 pilot centers were established in risky areas to deliver comprehensive services to women who themselves or their spouses are engaged in drug use, risky sexual behavior or have history of imprisonment. Management of Sexually Transmitted Infection, psychological counseling and harm reduction are provided by female staff. The aim of this study was to report the activities conducting in 2008. Methods: Registered information was used to assess the demographic characteristic, HIV/ AIDS related risk factors and services delivered to clients. Results: Till March 2008, 442 clients have been admitted. Most of them (36.2%) had 25-34 years old. 14.3% were illiterate and 31% were totally jobless. The most prevalent risk factors were risky sexual behavior (27.1%) and noninjecting drug use (23.2%). Injecting drug use was detected in 11.3% of attendees. Dividing clients according to marital status, risky sexual behavior was the main risk factor in unmarried (40.2%) and divorced (26.9%) but in married and widow ones, non-injecting drug use was the most (25.8% and 36.5% respectively). Harm reduction (40.5%) and counseling (36.6%) were the most delivered services. Conclusion: Since vulnerable women play a critical role to spread HIV-epidemic to general population, increasing centers provide more access to this population.read more
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Drug Treatment as HIV Prevention Among Women and Girls Who Inject Drugs From a Global Perspective: Progress, Gaps, and Future Directions.
Sandra A. Springer,Sarah Larney,Zahra Alammehrjerdi,Frederick L. Altice,David S. Metzger,Steven Shoptaw +5 more
TL;DR: Development and/or implementation of interventions that facilitate women and girls engaging in drug treatment that address their roles within society, work, and family/relationships, and outcome evaluation of these interventions are crucial.
Journal ArticleDOI
Correlates of HIV Testing among Female Sex Workers in Iran: Findings of a National Bio-Behavioural Surveillance Survey
Mostafa Shokoohi,Mohammad Karamouzian,Razieh Khajekazemi,Mehdi Osooli,Hamid Sharifi,Ali Akbar Haghdoost,Kianoush Kamali,Ali Mirzazadeh,Ali Mirzazadeh +8 more
TL;DR: Interventions to help F SWs evaluate their potential risk for HIV and integrate HIV testing services in condom distribution programs, could be viable strategies in increasing HIV testing uptake among FSWs.
Journal ArticleDOI
HIV in Iran: onset, responses, and future directions.
SeyedAhmad SeyedAlinaghi,Leila Taj,Elham Mazaheri-Tehrani,Sara Ahsani-Nasab,Negin Abedinzadeh,Willi McFarland,Minoo Mohraz,Ali Mirzazadeh,Ali Mirzazadeh +8 more
TL;DR: The initial onset and subsequent spread of HIV infection in Iran is recounted, beginning with the first case diagnosed to the ongoing responses and most recent achievements in controlling this epidemic.
Journal ArticleDOI
Remaining Gap in HIV Testing Uptake Among Female Sex Workers in Iran
Mostafa Shokoohi,Atefeh Noori,Mohammad Karamouzian,Mohammad Karamouzian,Hamid Sharifi,Razieh Khajehkazemi,Noushin Fahimfar,Samira Hosseini-Hooshyar,Parvin Afsar Kazerooni,Ali Mirzazadeh,Ali Mirzazadeh +10 more
TL;DR: Findings are promising and show improvement over a short period, HIV testing programs should be expanded particularly through mobile and outreach efforts, and HIV testing uptake showed a ~2.5 times increase among FSW since 2010.
Journal ArticleDOI
Injection drug use among female sex workers in Iran: Findings from a nationwide bio-behavioural survey
Mohammad Karamouzian,Mohammad Karamouzian,Ali Mirzazadeh,Angeli Rawat,Mostafa Shokoohi,AA Haghdoost,Abbas Sedaghat,Armita Shahesmaeili,Hamid Sharifi +8 more
TL;DR: The prevalence of injection drug use among FSWs in Iran is concerning and given the potential of this sub-population in bridging HIV into the general population, gender-sensitive and peer-led harm reduction programs should be further scaled up to meet the special needs of this vulnerable population.
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