Situation of Linkage between Sexual and Reproductive Health and HIV-Related Policies in Islamic Republic of Iran - A Rapid Assessment in 2011-2

• Main Authors: Ghobad Moradi (Author), Sahar Khoshravesh (Author), Mozhgan Hosseiny (Author)
• Format: Book
• Published: Kerman University of Medical Sciences, 2015-03-01T00:00:00Z.
• Subjects: article
• Online Access: Connect to this object online.
• Notes: 10.15171/ijhpm.2015.30; 2322-5939; 2322-5939
• Keywords: HIV/AIDS; Reproductive Health; Rapid Assessment; Iran; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270
• Source: International Journal of Health Policy and Management, Vol 4, Iss 3, Pp 131-136 (2015)

The number of sexual transmission of HIV is increasing globally. Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRH) issues and HIV/AIDS related problems are rooted in common grounds such as poverty, gender inequality, and social exclusion. As a result, international health organizations have suggested the integration of SRH services with HIV/AIDS services as a strategy to control HIV and to improve people's access to SRH services. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between reproductive health and HIV/AIDS services at policy-making level in Islamic Republic of Iran (IRI). This study was conducted in 2011-2 and was a rapid assessment based on guidelines provided by the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Family Health International Association, and some other international organizations. In this rapid assessment we used different methods such as a review of literature and documents, visiting and interviewing professionals and experts in family health and HIV/AIDS programs, and experts working in some NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs). Overall, based on the results obtained in this study, in most cases there was not much linkage between HIV/AIDS policies and SRH policies in Iran. Since integration of HIV/AIDS services and SRH services is recommended as a model and an appropriate response to HIV epidemics worldwide, likewise to control the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Iran it is required to integrate HIV/AIDS and SRH services at all levels, particularly at the policy-making level.