title: Acceptability of HIV/AIDS testing among pre-marital couples in Iran (2012).
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)/acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) is a lifestyle-related disease. This disease is transmitted through unprotected sex, contaminated needles, infected blood transfusion and from mother to child during pregnancy and delivery. Prevention of infection with HIV, mainly through safe sex and needle exchange programmes is a solution to prevent the spread of the disease. Knowledge about HIV state helps to prevent and subsequently reduce the harm to the later generation. The purpose of this study was to assess the willingness rate of couples referred to the family regulation pre-marital counselling centre for performing HIV test before marriage in Yazd.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this descriptive study, a simple random sampling was done among people referred to Akbari clinic. The couples were 1000 men and 1000 women referred to the premarital counselling centre for pre-marital HIV testing in Yazd in the year 2012. They were in situations of pregnancy, delivery or nursing and milking. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software and chi-square statistical test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant statistical difference between the age groups about willingness for HIV testing before marriage (P < 0.001) and also positive comments about HIV testing in asymptomatic individuals (P < 0.001). This study also proved a significant statistical difference between the two gender groups about willingness to marry after HIV positive test of their wives.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The willingness rate of couples to undergo HIV testing before marriage was significant. Therefore, HIV testing before marriage as a routine test was suggested.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Jamshid
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ayatollahi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Ali Bagheri
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Nasab Sarab
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Reza
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sharifi
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, Infectious and Tropical Diseases Research Center, Yazd, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Hossein
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Shahcheraghi
keywords: AIDS; HIV; marriage; sex
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