Citation

Hajiabdolbaghi M, Razani N, Karami N, Kheirandish P, Mohraz M, Rasoolinejad M, Arefnia K, Kourorian Z, Rutherford G, McFarland W. AIDS Educ. Prev. 2007; 19(6): 519-530.

Affiliation

Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Infectious Diseases, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2007, Guilford Publications)

DOI

10.1521/aeap.2007.19.6.519

PMID

18190276

Abstract

Despite high rates of HIV among male injection drug users, the sexual behaviors of at-risk women in Iran remain unknown. A questionnaire on HIV knowledge and risk behavior was administered in a Tehran nongovernmental organization targeting runaways and other women seeking safe haven. Half (total N = 50) were less than 24 years old; baseline HIV knowledge was high. The few who acknowledged using illicit substances said they used "frequently." Nonresponse rates to questions regarding sexual behavior were high (12 of 50). Half admitted a history of sexual activity; 40% of those reported their first sexual contact with someone other than their husband; three people had multiple partners. Three women reported a history of rape. Zero (97.5% one-sided confidence interval CI = 0, 0.17) of 35 women tested positive for HIV or syphilis. This study documents the existence of sexual behavior in a population of Iranian women, represents one of the first attempts at sexual research in the Iranian context, and highlights challenges in surveying this vulnerable group.

Language: en