HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia
Background: In Western and Southwest Asia, literature is not documented on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programs in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The present study is the first brief review that describes HIV programs in these three neighboring countries.Methods: Data regarding the evidence of...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Kerman University of Medical Sciences
2019-03-01
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| Series: | Addiction and Health |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84682_bb601413cbd71442bd959bced33717d5.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797681861724471296 |
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| author | Omid Massah Afsaneh Moradi Ali Farhoudian Mahmood Amini-Lari Hassan Joulaei Reza Daneshmand |
| author_facet | Omid Massah Afsaneh Moradi Ali Farhoudian Mahmood Amini-Lari Hassan Joulaei Reza Daneshmand |
| author_sort | Omid Massah |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: In Western and Southwest Asia, literature is not documented on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programs in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The present study is the first brief review that describes HIV programs in these three neighboring countries.Methods: Data regarding the evidence of HIV programs were gathered through a systematic literature searching. English publications were retrieved through searching online scientific databases. Grey literature was also searched online. The review was based on the studies related to the last decade.Findings: Systematic searching resulted in retrieving 21,948 studies but only 21 studies were relevant to the study aim. The review findings indicated that Iran has provided a nationwide sero-surveillance data system and has identified its key populations. Detecting HIV prevalence has been limited to case-finding in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. However, strategic plans for HIV have been provided in the three countries. HIV education, knowledge and support have been provided but still needs consideration in the three countries especially in Iraq. The low coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has remained a critical gap in the provision of comprehensive HIV programs in these three countries. This issue has been followed by the lack of opiate substitution therapies for drug dependents and injecting drug users in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Condom promotion and voluntary HIV counselling and testing have been provided for at-risk groups in the three countries but need more nationwide coverages. However, needle and syringe programs (NSPs) have been only provided in Iran.Conclusion: The review concluded that the provision of effective HIV programs should address training human resources and infrastructural development. This issue should be facilitated by international collaborations and governmental supports. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:51:09Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-627ac02f8fdd4dd3827a6aad816458eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2008-4633 2008-8469 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-11T23:51:09Z |
| publishDate | 2019-03-01 |
| publisher | Kerman University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Addiction and Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-627ac02f8fdd4dd3827a6aad816458eb2023-09-19T06:50:39ZengKerman University of Medical SciencesAddiction and Health2008-46332008-84692019-03-018313614484682HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest AsiaOmid Massah0Afsaneh Moradi1Ali Farhoudian2Mahmood Amini-Lari3Hassan Joulaei4Reza Daneshmand5Senior Researcher, Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranSenior Researcher, Department of Psychology, School of Psychology and Educational Sciences, Alzahra University, Tehran, IranPcychiatrist, Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranSenior Researcher, Shiraz HIV/AIDS Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranSenior Researcher, Health Policy Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranPsychiatrist, Substance Abuse and Dependence Research Center, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, IranBackground: In Western and Southwest Asia, literature is not documented on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) programs in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. The present study is the first brief review that describes HIV programs in these three neighboring countries.Methods: Data regarding the evidence of HIV programs were gathered through a systematic literature searching. English publications were retrieved through searching online scientific databases. Grey literature was also searched online. The review was based on the studies related to the last decade.Findings: Systematic searching resulted in retrieving 21,948 studies but only 21 studies were relevant to the study aim. The review findings indicated that Iran has provided a nationwide sero-surveillance data system and has identified its key populations. Detecting HIV prevalence has been limited to case-finding in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. However, strategic plans for HIV have been provided in the three countries. HIV education, knowledge and support have been provided but still needs consideration in the three countries especially in Iraq. The low coverage of antiretroviral therapy (ART) has remained a critical gap in the provision of comprehensive HIV programs in these three countries. This issue has been followed by the lack of opiate substitution therapies for drug dependents and injecting drug users in Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Condom promotion and voluntary HIV counselling and testing have been provided for at-risk groups in the three countries but need more nationwide coverages. However, needle and syringe programs (NSPs) have been only provided in Iran.Conclusion: The review concluded that the provision of effective HIV programs should address training human resources and infrastructural development. This issue should be facilitated by international collaborations and governmental supports.https://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84682_bb601413cbd71442bd959bced33717d5.pdfhiviraniraqsaudi arabiapersian gulf |
| spellingShingle | Omid Massah Afsaneh Moradi Ali Farhoudian Mahmood Amini-Lari Hassan Joulaei Reza Daneshmand HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia Addiction and Health hiv iran iraq saudi arabia persian gulf |
| title | HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia |
| title_full | HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia |
| title_fullStr | HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia |
| title_full_unstemmed | HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia |
| title_short | HIV Programs in Iran (Persia), Iraq and Saudi Arabia: A Brief Review of Current Evidence in West and Southwest Asia |
| title_sort | hiv programs in iran persia iraq and saudi arabia a brief review of current evidence in west and southwest asia |
| topic | hiv iran iraq saudi arabia persian gulf |
| url | https://ahj.kmu.ac.ir/article_84682_bb601413cbd71442bd959bced33717d5.pdf |
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