title: Modeling of human immunodeficiency virus modes of transmission in Iran.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Main technique to control acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (HIV) infection is the effective preventive programs among high-risk groups. Modeling is one of the effective methods where there is inadequate data. We used the modes of transmission (MOT) model to predict the transmission of HIV infection in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  We systematically searched published and grey literature to find values for the input parameters of MOT in 2010. The data were discussed by experts before being fed into the model. Using the Monte Carlo simulation, we computed the 95% confidence interval (CI) for the outputs of the MOT.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The MOT estimates that 9136 new HIV infections would have occurred in Iran in 2010 (95% CI: 6831, 11757). About 56% (95% CI: 47.7%, 61.6%) of new infections were among intravenous drug users (IDUs) and 12% (95% CI: 9.5%, 15%) among their sexual partners. The major routes of direct and indirect HIV transmission in Iran are unsafe injection (68%) and unprotected sexual contact (34% unprotected heterosexual and 10% homosexual) respectively. If current coverage for safe injection among IDUs increases from 80% to 95%, new HIV infections in this group would decrease around 75%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IDUs remain at highest risk of HIV infection in Iran, so the preventive program coverage for IDUs and their spouses needs to be increased. As the sexual transmission of HIV contributes increasingly to the pool of new infections, serious measures such as harm reduction program are required to reduce sexual transmission of HIV among the relevant key populations.
authors.affiliation: Regional Knowledge Hub for HIV/AIDS Surveillance, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. maryamnasirian27@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Maryam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nasirian
authors.forename: Fardad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Doroudi
authors.forename: Mohammad Mahdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gooya
authors.forename: Abbas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sedaghat
authors.forename: Ali Akbar
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Haghdoost
mesh_terms: D015658:HIV Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007492:Iran / Q000453:epidemiology; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D009010:Monte Carlo Method; D015995:Prevalence; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications