title: Psychological, Social, and Familial Problems of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Iran: A Qualitative Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  HIV/AIDS is one of the diseases which not only makes threats to physical health, but also, due to the negative attitudes of people and the social stigma, affects the emotional and social health of patients. The aim of this study was to identify the psychological, social, and family problems of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this qualitative study, we used purposive sampling to enroll PLWHA, their families, and physicians and consultants in two cities of Kermanshah and Tehran. Each group of PLWHA, their families, physicians, and consultants participated in two focus group discussions (FGDs), and a total of eight FGDs were conducted. Six interviews were held with all key people, individually.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Based on the views and opinions of various groups involved in the study, the main problems of PLWHA were: Ostracism, depression, anxiety, a tendency to get revenge and lack of fear to infect others, frustration, social isolation, relationship problems, and fear due to the social stigma. Their psychological problems included: Marriage problems, family conflict, lack of family support, economic hardships inhibiting marriage, and social rejection of patient's families. Their family problems were: Unemployment, the need for housing, basic needs, homelessness, and lack of social support associations.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It seems that the identification and focusing on psychological, social, and family problems of affected people not only is an important factor for disease prevention and control, but also enables patients to have a better response to complications caused by HIV/AIDS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Mental Health, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Bloomberg School of Public Health, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Social Determinant of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Masoumeh
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dejman
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology and Biostatic, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Hossein Malekafzali
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Ardakani
authors.affiliation: Department of Dermatology, Boali Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bahareh
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Malekafzali
authors.affiliation: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences, Sanandaj, Iran.
authors.forename: Ghobad
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Moradi
authors.affiliation: Center for Communicable Diseases Control, Ministry of Health and Medical Education, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Mohammad Mehdi
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Gouya
authors.affiliation: Social Determinant of Health Research Centre, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zahra Jorjoran
authors.initials: ZJ
authors.lastname: Shushtari
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Seyed Ahmad Seyed
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Alinaghi
authors.affiliation: Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Minoo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mohraz
keywords: HIV/AIDS; Iran; psychological needs; qualitative study; social needs