Journal of School of Public Health and

Background and Aim: Iran National Polio Laboratory (NPL) is a member of the World Health Organization (WHO) Polio Laboratories Network. NPL receives stool specimens from acute flaccid paralysis (AFP) cases from all the provinces throughout Iran for poliovirus detection and identification. Furthermore, the NPL also detects non-polio enteroviruses (NPEVs) in these specimens.  Recently, NPEVs have come to be believed to be one of the most important causes of AFP following wild poliovirus.  This paper reports the prevalence of different types of NPEVs isolated from the specimens of AFP cases between 1995 and 2000.

Materials and Methods: Stool collection, virus detection and serotype identification were performed according to the WHO standard procedures.

Results: A total of 2180 stool specimens from AFP cases were received at the National Polio Laboratory. Coxsackie B viruse and echoviruses 6, 11, 7 and 13 had the highest frequency, identified in 23.7%, 14.4%, 12.7%, 11% and 10.2% of the NPEVs isolated from AFP cases, respectively. Four cases of echovirus 20 were identified, in 2 cases the patiets having died and in one the patient having been afflicted with residual paralysis. There have been no reports of death or residual paralysis (paralysis continuing after 60 days) due to echoviruse 20.

Conclusion:  Considering the upward trend of AFP cases in Iran, even after wild poliovirus eradication, studies are needed to determine the frequency and type identification of NPEVs and the relationship between NPEVs and residual paralysis in the post-eradication era (2000 onwards).

Introduction: Development of effective antiretroviral therapies (ART) has reduced mortality and increased life expectancy among individuals with HIV infection. Antiretroviral therapy regiments have improved symptoms and quality of life among these patients, whose sexual and reproductive needs, have, therefore, increased as well. In 2010, 20.8% of HIV-infected Iranians acquired the disease through sexual relations. The objective of this study was to define high-risk sexual behaviors among individuals infected with HIV referred to the Triangular Clinics of Universities of Medical Sciences in Tehran.

Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional interview-based survey included 400 HIV-positive individuals selected by consequential sampling.

Results: The majority (60%) of the subjects was males, and 44.2% of men and 51.3% of women with HIV were in the age group 34-25 years. On the whole, 15.6% of the women and 49.6% of the men had high-risk sexual behaviors after diagnosis of HIV infection. Further analysis of the data showed that 62.5%  of HIV-positive individuals were not aware of the risks of unsafe sexual relationship (using no condom) for HIV-positive transmission.. Based on the logistic regression module, it was found that factors strongly associated with high-risk sexual behavior were being male, being single, under high school diploma/graduate degree, alcohol intake and use of hormonal and permanent methods of family planning  (p<0.05).

Conclusion: The findings of this study confirm previous reports showing common high-risk sexual behaviour after diagnosis in HIV-positive populations. Providing suitable health services and advice on fertility and sexual health will result in no- or low-risk sexual life for couples.

  Background and Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the views of policy makers and key persons about national AIDS control politics.

  Materials and Methods : This qualitative study used purposive sampling. To collect data, the perspectives of six experts about AIDS were inspected. Framework analysis was used to analyze the data.

  Results: The results of this study showed that beside the strengths there are also significant weaknesses in making the policies, administering the existing policies, executing the programs in organizations, and planning new policies to control AIDS hence these problems and weaknesses must be identified to achieve the main goals of AIDS control program.

  Conclusion: AIDS is not only a health problem but a social, economical and cultural problem, which requires more attention from authorities and related organizations for developing and implementing policies in accordance with international guidelines. To achieve Millennium development goals (MDGs) in the context of AIDS it is essential for policy makers and key figures to consider more effective activities and measures in their agenda.