Designing a national plan for improving sexual health in Iran: An experience of an Islamic country.
BACKGROUND
Prevalence of sexual dysfunction varies from 20% to 40% in men and women in different studies in Iran. Despite its high prevalence, it seems that this issue has been neglected, particularly in Islamic countries. The aim of this study was to assess sexual health in Iran. This was a mixed method study.


METHODS
Data were collected through evaluating country's sexual health programs and literature review. Sexual health status was drafted and formed following a sound analysis by stakeholders. After conducting interviews and focus group discussions, the main points of the meetings, influencing factors of the present status and oncoming strategies were obtained upon experts' opinions.


RESULTS
Review of general policies and the literature showed that although there is adequate support for improving sexual health status in the country, sexual health status has been decreased in the last decade. Based on Iranian sexual health indicators and experts' opinions, the focus points could be divided into the following groups: Structural and functional -political, legal-behavior, and cultural.


CONCLUSIONS
Breaking the taboo of sexual health issues would require attention from the policy makers especially in Islamic nations to facilitate the steps on the road to sexual health. In this regard, clarified vision, strategic goals and interventional policies are proposed. An inter-sectional cooperation is needed to implement interventions to promote sexual health status.
MD, MPH, MFPH, Assistant Professor, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. bdamari@gmail.com.
Behzad
B
Damari
MD, MPH, Researcher, Iranian Academy of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. narges_tabrizchi@yahoo.com.
Narges
N
Tabrizchi
MD, MFPH, Researcher, National Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. sahand1000@gmail.com.
Sahand
S
Riazi-Isfahani
Iran; Sexual Health; Sexual Health Status
Int J Prev Med. 2015 May 20;6:43
26097672
Iran J Public Health. 2013 Dec;42(12):1398-404
26060641
Front Psychiatry. 2014 Apr 04;4:181
24772093
Cult Health Sex. 2008 Apr;10(3):237-48
18432423
Stud Fam Plann. 2008 Jun;39(2):111-22
18678175
Glob J Health Sci. 2014 Apr 20;6(4):226-35
24999125
Arch Iran Med. 2013 Oct;16(10):594-8
24093141
Arch Iran Med. 2014 Oct;17(10):679-84
25305767
Lancet. 2006 Dec 9;368(9552):2101-3
17161732
Health Policy. 2008 Dec;88(2-3):269-81
18479774
Iran Red Crescent Med J. 2011 Nov;13(11):818-23
22737421
Reprod Health. 2012 Nov 20;9:31
23163964
J Sex Marital Ther. 2012;38(4):365-77
22712820
J Reprod Infertil. 2012 Apr;13(2):101-10
23926532
Int J Fertil Steril. 2014 Oct;8(3):281-8
25379157
Arch Iran Med. 2015 Feb;18(2):76-84
25644794
Lancet. 2006 Nov 4;368(9547):1595-607
17084760
J Res Health Sci. 2012 Dec 13;12(2):81-7
23241516
Int Perspect Sex Reprod Health. 2011 Mar;37(1):30-9
21478086
BMC Res Notes. 2015 Jun 17;8:248
26082003
Nurs Health Sci. 2007 Dec;9(4):246-53
17958673
Int J Impot Res. 2006 Jul-Aug;18(4):382-95
16395324
AIDS Res Treat. 2012;2012:651070
22506107
Arch Gynecol Obstet. 2013 Mar;287(3):533-9
23111907
J Reprod Infertil. 2012 Jan;13(1):39-51
23926523