Saman Zamani - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Saman Zamani
Kyoto University (京都大学)0048新制・課程博士博士(社会健康医学)甲第11788号社医博第9号新制||社医||3(附属図書館)23528UT51-2005-F818京都大学... more Kyoto University (京都大学)0048新制・課程博士博士(社会健康医学)甲第11788号社医博第9号新制||社医||3(附属図書館)23528UT51-2005-F818京都大学大学院医学研究科社会健康医学系専攻(主査)教授 速水 正憲, 教授 川村 孝, 教授 中原 俊隆学位規則第4条第1項該
transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and unwanted pregnancy
Needle and syringe sharing practices of injecting drug users participating in an outreach HIV pre... more Needle and syringe sharing practices of injecting drug users participating in an outreach HIV prevention program in Tehran, Iran: A cross-sectional study
Research article Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with ... more Research article Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection: A cross-sectional study
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise our manuscript entitled: "Vulnerability to HIV ... more Thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise our manuscript entitled: "Vulnerability to HIV infection among female drug users in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: a cross-sectional study". We appreciate the thorough and thoughtful comments to improve our work. We have carefully revised the manuscript accordingly and believe it has greatly improved over the original. The Discussion section has been revised, additional references were included as suggested, and the tables were simplified. Also, the Background Section was updated with the latest epidemiological data. Finally, the whole manuscript has been proofread by native English speakers and conforms to the journal style. Please, see below a point-by-point response (in blue) to each of the reviewers' comments. We look forward to your response.
Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of s... more Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection: A cross-sectional study I would like to sincerely thank you and the third reviewer for giving us critical advice for improving our manuscript. We have carefully considered all the valuable comments and have modified and simplified the manuscript accordingly. This covering letter contains a point-by-point list of the changes made, and the revised manuscript is also included for further consideration.
PLOS ONE
Background Fishing communities in many Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-risk population g... more Background Fishing communities in many Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-risk population group disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. In Uganda, literature on HIV in fishing communities has grown extensively since the first country’s documented case of HIV in a fishing community in 1985. The current study describes the status of the HIV burden, prevention, and treatment in Ugandan fishing communities. Method This scoping review was conducted based on the York Framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley. We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant quantitative and qualitative studies on HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, HIV-related risk factors, HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy coverage and adherence, and interventions to improve treatment outcomes and reduce HIV risk factors. Results & conclusion We identified 52 papers and 2 reports. Thirty-four were quantitative, 17 qualitative, and 3 had a mixed-methods design. Eleven studies r...
Background Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the cover... more Background Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from two drop-in centers (DICs) from April to September 2014, participated in a face-to-face interview to provide information related individual coverage of NSP, demographic characteristics, and injecting behaviors 30 days prior to the interview. Findings Overall, the average of syringe coverage was 158% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 65.7-205.5], while 56% (95% CI = 40-97) have individual converge less than 100%. Needle/syringe sharing was significantly higher among individual with low NSP coverage [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3-6.2]. Ab...
Contraception, Feb 29, 2008
The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and... more The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and contraceptive use, and factors associated with unintended pregnancy among Chinese university students. A self-administered questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was administered among students in two universities in Ningbo, China, in November-December 2003. Sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with unintended pregnancy were identified in both genders using univariate and multivariate analyses. Of sexually active students, 10.6% of male and 11.6% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of pregnancy; 10.0% of male and 11.3% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of induced abortion. The risk factors for unintended pregnancy identified among males by multivariate analysis were older age [odds ratio (OR), 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-3.88], initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.36-4.44), reported lack of condom use in first sexual activity (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.64), multiple sexual partners (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.06-2.23), and often used condoms during their lifetime (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.01-3.81). The identified risk factors among females were initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 1.49-17.68), non-consensual sexual intercourse as first sex (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.08-2.90), multiple partners (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.61-4.71), and sometimes/never (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.16-7.87) or often (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.43-10.73) used condoms during their lifetime. The high prevalence of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions in this population indicates a need for better and targeted sex education and family planning services.
Addiction & health
Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such... more Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from two drop-in centers (DICs) from April to September 2014, participated in a face-to-face interview to provide information related individual coverage of NSP, demographic characteristics, and injecting behaviors 30 days prior to the interview. Overall, the average of syringe coverage was 158% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 65.7-205.5], while 56% (95% CI = 40-97) have individual converge less than 100%. Needle/syringe sharing was significantly higher among individual with low NSP coverage [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3-6.2]. About 85% participants with co...
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Nov 1, 2010
Iran faced an HIV epidemic among injecting-drug users (IDUs) and has responded to this threat. Me... more Iran faced an HIV epidemic among injecting-drug users (IDUs) and has responded to this threat. Meanwhile, there is growing concern over the possibility of bridging HIV infection from IDUs to other populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Cross-sectional biobehavioral surveys were conducted among 370 injecting-drug users recruited from drug treatment centers, a drop-in center, as well as streets in drug-populated areas in Tehran, Iran, between 2003 and 2004. Data from these surveys showed that about 12% of male, sexually experienced IDUs have had same-gender sex, and HIV prevalence is high (19%), but condom use during the last sexual encounter was low (20%). A multivariate analysis showed that IDUs who had sex with men (MSM IDUs), compared to other sexually experienced IDUs, are younger (AOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.98), more likely to have used a shared needle/syringe for drug injection (AOR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.82-10.12), and have had more than 5 sexual partners in their lifetime (AOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.14-6.44). These results show that MSM IDUs exhibit more drug-related and sexual risk behaviors that may serve as a bridge for sexual transmission of HIV to other populations, including the broader MSM community, in Tehran. This report intends to encourage health authorities in Iran to take serious action to prevent sexual transmission of HIV from MSM IDUs to their sexual networks.
BMC Public Health, 2013
Background: Women who use drugs are extremely vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infectio... more Background: Women who use drugs are extremely vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but studies on risk behaviours and HIV infection among female drug users are limited in Nepal. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between September 2010 and May 2011, HIV prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection were investigated among female drug users recruited in drop-in centres, parks and streets in the Kathmandu Valley. The participants completed face-to-face interviews for a structured questionnaire, HIV pre-test counselling, specimen collection for HIV test and they were provided with their results at post-test counselling. Results: A total of 269 female drug users were recruited, of whom 28% (n = 77) were found HIV positive; the majority (78%, n = 211) being injecting drug users and aged below 25 years (57%, n = 155). Nearly half (n = 137) of the total participants had shared needles or syringes in the past month, and 131 and 102 participants were involved in commercial or casual sex respectively with only half or less of them having had used condoms in the last 12 months. In multivariate analysis the variables associated with HIV infection included: (a) older age; (b) history of school attendance; (c) frequency of sharing of injection instruments; and (d) unsafe sex with commercial or casual partners. Conclusions: HIV was highly prevalent among female drug users in the Kathmandu Valley, with its risk being strongly associated not only with unsafe injection practice but also with unsafe sexual behaviours. Awareness raising programmes and preventive measures such as condom distribution, needle or syringe exchange or methadone maintenance therapy should be urgently introduced in this neglected subpopulation.
The International journal on drug policy, 2010
The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug ... more The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) is a challenge for health authorities in Iran. Hence, more reliable estimates of the levels of blood-borne infections and their associated factors are critically needed. Active IDUs were recruited using peer-driven sampling in a bio-behavioural survey in 2008. Over 8 weeks, data were collected from adults living in a city in Isfahan Province who had injected drugs in the past month. Participants provided a whole blood sample and answered questions on sexual and drug-related risk characteristics. Participants were provided post-test counselling and a non-monetary incentive for their participation. Excluding two inactive cases, the initial recruits resulted in 2-8 waves of recruitment. Overall, 118 IDUs including three females participated. The estimated population proportions of HIV, hepatitis B, and HCV infections were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1-2.1), and 59.4...
The International journal on drug policy, 2010
The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug ... more The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) is a challenge for health authorities in Iran. Hence, more reliable estimates of the levels of blood-borne infections and their associated factors are critically needed. Active IDUs were recruited using peer-driven sampling in a bio-behavioural survey in 2008. Over 8 weeks, data were collected from adults living in a city in Isfahan Province who had injected drugs in the past month. Participants provided a whole blood sample and answered questions on sexual and drug-related risk characteristics. Participants were provided post-test counselling and a non-monetary incentive for their participation. Excluding two inactive cases, the initial recruits resulted in 2-8 waves of recruitment. Overall, 118 IDUs including three females participated. The estimated population proportions of HIV, hepatitis B, and HCV infections were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1-2.1), and 59.4...
The International journal on drug policy, 2007
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection amon... more This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in a community-based setting in Tehran, Iran. In October 2004, injecting drug users were recruited from a drop-in centre and neighboring parks and streets in a drug-populated neighborhood in Tehran. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and a sample of oral mucosal transudate was collected for detection of HIV and HCV antibodies. Overall, 105 of 202 participants (52.0%) were found to be positive for HCV-antibody testing. After adjustment for the basic demographic characteristics, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be associated with length of drug injection (more than 10 years) [odds ratio (OR), 3.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43-7.38], length of lifetime incarcerations (more than a year) (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.68-7.06), and a history of being tattooed inside prison (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.06-3.62). High prevalence of HCV infect...
BMC public health, 2006
The vulnerability of young people to HIV and the recent emergence of the HIV epidemic in China ha... more The vulnerability of young people to HIV and the recent emergence of the HIV epidemic in China have made it urgent to assess and update the HIV/STD risk profile of Chinese young people. A self-administered questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was conducted among 22,493 undergraduate students in two universities in Ningbo, China. Bivariate trend analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare sexual behaviors and awareness between grades. Of respondents, 17.6% of males and 8.6% of females reported being sexually active. Condom was reported never/rarely used by 35% of sexually active students in both genders in the previous year. Pregnancy and induced abortion had each been experienced by about 10% of sexually active female students and the female partners of male students, and about 1.5% of sexually active students of both genders reported being diagnosed with an STD. Multivariate analysis revealed that students in lower grades, compared to those i...
HIV infection rates have reached epidemic proportions amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Iran... more HIV infection rates have reached epidemic proportions amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Iran. Although a number of community-based interventions have being implemented in the country, there is little information on the risk behaviors of IDU participants in these programs. This crosssectional report aimed to compare the risk behaviors of injecting drug users with differential exposure rates to an HIV outreach program in Tehran, Iran. Results indicated that shared use of needle/syringe in the past month was significantly lower among IDUs who received estimated ≥ 7 syringes per week than those who did not [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 14.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.30-89.56]. While the effectiveness of this outreach program needs further evaluation through a longitudinal investigation, our preliminary findings suggest that the outreach program in Tehran may have been beneficial in reducing direct sharing among those who received more than several needles/syringes from the program.
International Journal of Drug Policy, 2010
Background: Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, ... more Background: Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, including acquisition of blood-borne infections. In response, several prevention interventions including methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have been introduced into prisons in Iran. Methods: This report reviews and presents some important information extracted from published articles, and available documents on HIV sentinel surveillance and provision of MMT inside correctional settings in Iran. Results: Biological surveillance data in 2005 showed that on average about 3% of prisoners in the country tested positive for HIV infection. MTT that constitutes a main component of the Prison Organisation's HIV prevention package is becoming increasingly accessible to opioid-dependent prisoners. Between 2002 and 2008, the number of opioid-dependent prisoners receiving MMT increased steadily from 100 to more than 25000. Conclusion: Experiences in Iran suggest that access to MMT would be helpful for reducing illicit drug injection in a prison setting and can be considered as a major intervention for preventing the transmission of blood-borne infections among prisoners.
Kyoto University (京都大学)0048新制・課程博士博士(社会健康医学)甲第11788号社医博第9号新制||社医||3(附属図書館)23528UT51-2005-F818京都大学... more Kyoto University (京都大学)0048新制・課程博士博士(社会健康医学)甲第11788号社医博第9号新制||社医||3(附属図書館)23528UT51-2005-F818京都大学大学院医学研究科社会健康医学系専攻(主査)教授 速水 正憲, 教授 川村 孝, 教授 中原 俊隆学位規則第4条第1項該
transmitted diseases, HIV infection, and unwanted pregnancy
Needle and syringe sharing practices of injecting drug users participating in an outreach HIV pre... more Needle and syringe sharing practices of injecting drug users participating in an outreach HIV prevention program in Tehran, Iran: A cross-sectional study
Research article Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with ... more Research article Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection: A cross-sectional study
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise our manuscript entitled: "Vulnerability to HIV ... more Thank you for giving us the opportunity to revise our manuscript entitled: "Vulnerability to HIV infection among female drug users in Kathmandu Valley, Nepal: a cross-sectional study". We appreciate the thorough and thoughtful comments to improve our work. We have carefully revised the manuscript accordingly and believe it has greatly improved over the original. The Discussion section has been revised, additional references were included as suggested, and the tables were simplified. Also, the Background Section was updated with the latest epidemiological data. Finally, the whole manuscript has been proofread by native English speakers and conforms to the journal style. Please, see below a point-by-point response (in blue) to each of the reviewers' comments. We look forward to your response.
Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of s... more Sexual behavior and awareness of Chinese university students in transition with implied risk of sexually transmitted diseases and HIV infection: A cross-sectional study I would like to sincerely thank you and the third reviewer for giving us critical advice for improving our manuscript. We have carefully considered all the valuable comments and have modified and simplified the manuscript accordingly. This covering letter contains a point-by-point list of the changes made, and the revised manuscript is also included for further consideration.
PLOS ONE
Background Fishing communities in many Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-risk population g... more Background Fishing communities in many Sub-Saharan African countries are a high-risk population group disproportionately affected by the HIV epidemic. In Uganda, literature on HIV in fishing communities has grown extensively since the first country’s documented case of HIV in a fishing community in 1985. The current study describes the status of the HIV burden, prevention, and treatment in Ugandan fishing communities. Method This scoping review was conducted based on the York Framework outlined by Arksey and O’Malley. We searched the PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science databases to identify relevant quantitative and qualitative studies on HIV incidence, HIV prevalence, HIV-related risk factors, HIV testing, antiretroviral therapy coverage and adherence, and interventions to improve treatment outcomes and reduce HIV risk factors. Results & conclusion We identified 52 papers and 2 reports. Thirty-four were quantitative, 17 qualitative, and 3 had a mixed-methods design. Eleven studies r...
Background Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the cover... more Background Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. Methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from two drop-in centers (DICs) from April to September 2014, participated in a face-to-face interview to provide information related individual coverage of NSP, demographic characteristics, and injecting behaviors 30 days prior to the interview. Findings Overall, the average of syringe coverage was 158% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 65.7-205.5], while 56% (95% CI = 40-97) have individual converge less than 100%. Needle/syringe sharing was significantly higher among individual with low NSP coverage [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3-6.2]. Ab...
Contraception, Feb 29, 2008
The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and... more The study was conducted to determine the prevalence of unintended pregnancy, induced abortion and contraceptive use, and factors associated with unintended pregnancy among Chinese university students. A self-administered questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was administered among students in two universities in Ningbo, China, in November-December 2003. Sociodemographic and behavioral factors associated with unintended pregnancy were identified in both genders using univariate and multivariate analyses. Of sexually active students, 10.6% of male and 11.6% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of pregnancy; 10.0% of male and 11.3% of female students reported their partner or they had a history of induced abortion. The risk factors for unintended pregnancy identified among males by multivariate analysis were older age [odds ratio (OR), 2.12; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.15-3.88], initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 2.45; 95% CI, 1.36-4.44), reported lack of condom use in first sexual activity (OR, 1.71; 95% CI, 1.10-2.64), multiple sexual partners (OR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.06-2.23), and often used condoms during their lifetime (OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.01-3.81). The identified risk factors among females were initiation of sexual activity before high school (OR, 5.12; 95% CI, 1.49-17.68), non-consensual sexual intercourse as first sex (OR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.08-2.90), multiple partners (OR, 2.75; 95% CI, 1.61-4.71), and sometimes/never (OR, 3.02; 95% CI, 1.16-7.87) or often (OR, 3.92; 95% CI, 1.43-10.73) used condoms during their lifetime. The high prevalence of unintended pregnancies and induced abortions in this population indicates a need for better and targeted sex education and family planning services.
Addiction & health
Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such... more Needle-syringe programs (NSP) have been running in Iran since 2002. However, the coverage of such program among the NSP clients at the individual level was not studies yet. This study aimed to determine the client coverage of NSP and its correlation with high injection-related risk behaviors. A cross-sectional survey was conducted in Kermanshah province, Iran, in 2014. 230 people who inject drugs (PWID) recruited from two drop-in centers (DICs) from April to September 2014, participated in a face-to-face interview to provide information related individual coverage of NSP, demographic characteristics, and injecting behaviors 30 days prior to the interview. Overall, the average of syringe coverage was 158% [95% confidence interval (CI) = 65.7-205.5], while 56% (95% CI = 40-97) have individual converge less than 100%. Needle/syringe sharing was significantly higher among individual with low NSP coverage [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.6, 95% CI = 1.3-6.2]. About 85% participants with co...
Sexually Transmitted Diseases, Nov 1, 2010
Iran faced an HIV epidemic among injecting-drug users (IDUs) and has responded to this threat. Me... more Iran faced an HIV epidemic among injecting-drug users (IDUs) and has responded to this threat. Meanwhile, there is growing concern over the possibility of bridging HIV infection from IDUs to other populations, including men who have sex with men (MSM). Cross-sectional biobehavioral surveys were conducted among 370 injecting-drug users recruited from drug treatment centers, a drop-in center, as well as streets in drug-populated areas in Tehran, Iran, between 2003 and 2004. Data from these surveys showed that about 12% of male, sexually experienced IDUs have had same-gender sex, and HIV prevalence is high (19%), but condom use during the last sexual encounter was low (20%). A multivariate analysis showed that IDUs who had sex with men (MSM IDUs), compared to other sexually experienced IDUs, are younger (AOR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.81-0.98), more likely to have used a shared needle/syringe for drug injection (AOR, 4.29; 95% CI, 1.82-10.12), and have had more than 5 sexual partners in their lifetime (AOR, 2.71; 95% CI, 1.14-6.44). These results show that MSM IDUs exhibit more drug-related and sexual risk behaviors that may serve as a bridge for sexual transmission of HIV to other populations, including the broader MSM community, in Tehran. This report intends to encourage health authorities in Iran to take serious action to prevent sexual transmission of HIV from MSM IDUs to their sexual networks.
BMC Public Health, 2013
Background: Women who use drugs are extremely vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infectio... more Background: Women who use drugs are extremely vulnerable to HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), but studies on risk behaviours and HIV infection among female drug users are limited in Nepal. Methods: In this cross-sectional study conducted between September 2010 and May 2011, HIV prevalence and risk factors for HIV infection were investigated among female drug users recruited in drop-in centres, parks and streets in the Kathmandu Valley. The participants completed face-to-face interviews for a structured questionnaire, HIV pre-test counselling, specimen collection for HIV test and they were provided with their results at post-test counselling. Results: A total of 269 female drug users were recruited, of whom 28% (n = 77) were found HIV positive; the majority (78%, n = 211) being injecting drug users and aged below 25 years (57%, n = 155). Nearly half (n = 137) of the total participants had shared needles or syringes in the past month, and 131 and 102 participants were involved in commercial or casual sex respectively with only half or less of them having had used condoms in the last 12 months. In multivariate analysis the variables associated with HIV infection included: (a) older age; (b) history of school attendance; (c) frequency of sharing of injection instruments; and (d) unsafe sex with commercial or casual partners. Conclusions: HIV was highly prevalent among female drug users in the Kathmandu Valley, with its risk being strongly associated not only with unsafe injection practice but also with unsafe sexual behaviours. Awareness raising programmes and preventive measures such as condom distribution, needle or syringe exchange or methadone maintenance therapy should be urgently introduced in this neglected subpopulation.
The International journal on drug policy, 2010
The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug ... more The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) is a challenge for health authorities in Iran. Hence, more reliable estimates of the levels of blood-borne infections and their associated factors are critically needed. Active IDUs were recruited using peer-driven sampling in a bio-behavioural survey in 2008. Over 8 weeks, data were collected from adults living in a city in Isfahan Province who had injected drugs in the past month. Participants provided a whole blood sample and answered questions on sexual and drug-related risk characteristics. Participants were provided post-test counselling and a non-monetary incentive for their participation. Excluding two inactive cases, the initial recruits resulted in 2-8 waves of recruitment. Overall, 118 IDUs including three females participated. The estimated population proportions of HIV, hepatitis B, and HCV infections were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1-2.1), and 59.4...
The International journal on drug policy, 2010
The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug ... more The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) is a challenge for health authorities in Iran. Hence, more reliable estimates of the levels of blood-borne infections and their associated factors are critically needed. Active IDUs were recruited using peer-driven sampling in a bio-behavioural survey in 2008. Over 8 weeks, data were collected from adults living in a city in Isfahan Province who had injected drugs in the past month. Participants provided a whole blood sample and answered questions on sexual and drug-related risk characteristics. Participants were provided post-test counselling and a non-monetary incentive for their participation. Excluding two inactive cases, the initial recruits resulted in 2-8 waves of recruitment. Overall, 118 IDUs including three females participated. The estimated population proportions of HIV, hepatitis B, and HCV infections were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1-2.1), and 59.4...
The International journal on drug policy, 2007
This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection amon... more This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and correlates of hepatitis C virus infection among injecting drug users in a community-based setting in Tehran, Iran. In October 2004, injecting drug users were recruited from a drop-in centre and neighboring parks and streets in a drug-populated neighborhood in Tehran. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire, and a sample of oral mucosal transudate was collected for detection of HIV and HCV antibodies. Overall, 105 of 202 participants (52.0%) were found to be positive for HCV-antibody testing. After adjustment for the basic demographic characteristics, the prevalence of HCV infection was found to be associated with length of drug injection (more than 10 years) [odds ratio (OR), 3.25; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.43-7.38], length of lifetime incarcerations (more than a year) (OR, 3.44; 95% CI, 1.68-7.06), and a history of being tattooed inside prison (OR, 1.96; 95% CI, 1.06-3.62). High prevalence of HCV infect...
BMC public health, 2006
The vulnerability of young people to HIV and the recent emergence of the HIV epidemic in China ha... more The vulnerability of young people to HIV and the recent emergence of the HIV epidemic in China have made it urgent to assess and update the HIV/STD risk profile of Chinese young people. A self-administered questionnaire survey with cross-sectional design was conducted among 22,493 undergraduate students in two universities in Ningbo, China. Bivariate trend analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis were used to compare sexual behaviors and awareness between grades. Of respondents, 17.6% of males and 8.6% of females reported being sexually active. Condom was reported never/rarely used by 35% of sexually active students in both genders in the previous year. Pregnancy and induced abortion had each been experienced by about 10% of sexually active female students and the female partners of male students, and about 1.5% of sexually active students of both genders reported being diagnosed with an STD. Multivariate analysis revealed that students in lower grades, compared to those i...
HIV infection rates have reached epidemic proportions amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Iran... more HIV infection rates have reached epidemic proportions amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) in Iran. Although a number of community-based interventions have being implemented in the country, there is little information on the risk behaviors of IDU participants in these programs. This crosssectional report aimed to compare the risk behaviors of injecting drug users with differential exposure rates to an HIV outreach program in Tehran, Iran. Results indicated that shared use of needle/syringe in the past month was significantly lower among IDUs who received estimated ≥ 7 syringes per week than those who did not [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 14.36, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.30-89.56]. While the effectiveness of this outreach program needs further evaluation through a longitudinal investigation, our preliminary findings suggest that the outreach program in Tehran may have been beneficial in reducing direct sharing among those who received more than several needles/syringes from the program.
International Journal of Drug Policy, 2010
Background: Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, ... more Background: Research evidence indicates that prisoners in Iran are at risk of drug-related harm, including acquisition of blood-borne infections. In response, several prevention interventions including methadone maintenance treatment (MMT) have been introduced into prisons in Iran. Methods: This report reviews and presents some important information extracted from published articles, and available documents on HIV sentinel surveillance and provision of MMT inside correctional settings in Iran. Results: Biological surveillance data in 2005 showed that on average about 3% of prisoners in the country tested positive for HIV infection. MTT that constitutes a main component of the Prison Organisation's HIV prevention package is becoming increasingly accessible to opioid-dependent prisoners. Between 2002 and 2008, the number of opioid-dependent prisoners receiving MMT increased steadily from 100 to more than 25000. Conclusion: Experiences in Iran suggest that access to MMT would be helpful for reducing illicit drug injection in a prison setting and can be considered as a major intervention for preventing the transmission of blood-borne infections among prisoners.