title: Thematic Analysis of Iranian Female Adolescents' Perceptions About HIV/AIDS: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV/AIDS continues to be a major global health problem. The aim of this study was to evaluate common opinions and beliefs about HIV/AIDS among Iranian teenager girls.
  
  
  METHODS
  This Qualitative study (face-to-face interviews with tape recording) was conducted among fifty female teenager school students in Urmia-Iran.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The thematic analysis indicated the main information sources for HIV/AIDS among teenage girls to be their mother and teachers. The participants had little concern about the dissemination of HIV/AIDS in Iran. Using a common syringe is mentioned as the main risk factor for HIV transmission. There were some misconceptions about the at-risk group among teenage girls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Considering the misconceptions among the teenage girls, their beliefs should be reformed and reorganized in order to reduce the risk of exposure to HIV. The best practice is training life skills in the school level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistic, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Elham
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ahmadnezhad
authors.forename: Nariman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sepehrvand
authors.forename: Sanaz
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hatami
authors.forename: Farshid
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Fayyazjahani
authors.forename: Somayyeh
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ahmadnezhad
authors.forename: Mohammad
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karamyyar
authors.forename: Shahrzad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bazarganhejazi
keywords: Girls; HIV/AIDS; Iran; adolescents; qualitative study