Participatory based policies to control HIV/AIDS in Iran: a qualitative study

Background: Iran has been successful in controlling HIV/AIDS during recent years; however, HIV/AIDS control requires new activities and policies. This study aimed to detect and suggest new policies to control HIV/AIDS in Iran using the viewpoints of a group of key persons and experts and health service providers in Iran. Methods: This is a part of a broad-scoped qualitative study which was conducted in 2011. The data was collected via semi-structured and deep interviews and FGDs with key persons and authorities and health service providers in Iran. The collected data was analyzed via content analysis method. Results: The results of this study suggest the need for a new policy to deal with AIDS in Iran in order to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS. Some of the most important suggestions are: proposing supportive policies for people living with HIV/ AIDS, revising the policies about high risk groups and avoiding criminalization, defining and designing and implementing new policies to put emphasize on the establishment of centers that provide preventive, training and counseling services about HIV/AIDS, providing operational social support and developing related policies, removing the stigma of HIV in the community and among health personnel, providing effective inter-sectoral coordination to provide services, engaging various organs, attracting supports from HIV/AIDS affected population, facilitating service delivery in different health units, revising the methods of service delivery and integrating HIV care services in health centers, using volunteers and NGOs to provide services, using international experience in the field of AIDS control, applying policies to support psychological supports, persuading and ensuring infected people to use services, applying policies to support families of infected people, setting policies for public training and education through the mass media. Conclusion: Revising the country’s HIV/AIDS policies and implementing up-to-date policies in line with Iran’s culture and conditions are necessity for successful HIV/AIDS control. High levels of management must give priority to deal with this disease. Experts and researchers can play their roles in this field via advocacy. If implementing new policies lead to integration of HIV program into the nation’s primary health care system it can be an effective method of HIV control.

HIV-AIDS, Policy, Iran, Need Assessment