title: Addressing predictors of HIV related risk behaviors: demographic and psychosocial profile of Iranian patients.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  For effective implementation of HIV-related behavioral interventions, better understanding the demographic characteristics of infected patients in relation with high-risk behavior profiles, physical and mental health are essential.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a cross-sectional descriptive study, 400 HIV infected patients from December 2011 through January 2013 were evaluated regarding their demographic features, and four selected subscales (high-risk behaviors, self-efficacy, well-being, and social participation). A validated questionnaire of 62 items was used for assessment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Almost 33% of all participants were women, 28% were younger than 30 years old, and 43% were never married; 50% had no permanent jobs. Women, widowed participants, patients <30 years, and those with higher educational levels had higher mean HIV risk behavior scores. In simple and multiple linear regression models, women >50 years and <30 years had the highest scores (β=2.714, p<0.0001; β=2.00, p<0.001). Furthermore, male and illiterate patients had higher social participation scores while female and divorced participants had higher well-being and self-efficacy scores.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We propose that demographic features play a critical role in increasing engagement in HIV-related high-risk behaviors; these characteristics also affect patients' social participation, well-being and self-efficacy. High-risk behaviors and social participation scores among women of different age groups and the youth highlight the need for future age and gender-specific educational and behavioral interventions among them.
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, PO Box: 1766934746, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: zohrezand@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Zohreh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zandmomen
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Keshavarz Blvd, PO Box: 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: sarasardashti@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sardashti
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Keshavarz Blvd, PO Box: 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: m_mohammadi_fr@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Mona Mohammadi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Firouzeh
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology & Biostatistics, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, PO Box: 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: f.jahanjou@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Fatemeh Jahanjoo
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Aminabad
authors.affiliation: Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Khomeini Hospital, PO Box: 1766934746, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: ihamed806@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hamed
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ghanbariragheb
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Keshavarz Blvd, PO Box: 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: S_a_alinaghi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: SeyedAhmad
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: SeyedAlinaghi
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS (IRCHA), Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Imam Hospital, Keshavarz Blvd, PO Box: 1419733141, Tehran, Iran. Electronic address: minoomohraz@ams.ac.ir.
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohraz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011584:Psychology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012309:Risk-Taking; D012725:Sexual Behavior; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Behavior; Demographics; HIV; Psychosocial factors; Sexual