Insights from a survey of sexual behavior among a group of at-risk women in Tehran, Iran, 2006.
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.
Hajiabdolbaghi
Mahboubeh
M
Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Department of Infectious Diseases, Emam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran, Iran.
Razani
Nooshin
N
Karami
Nazli
N
Kheirandish
Parastoo
P
Mohraz
Minoo
M
Rasoolinejad
Mehrnaz
M
Arefnia
Khojasteh
K
Kourorian
Zahra
Z
Rutherford
George
G
McFarland
Willi
W
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data