Abstract
Purpose: To assess the prevalence and associated factors of unprotected anal intercourse among Iranian male heterosexual Intra-Venous Drug Users (IDUs).Methods: In a cross-sectional study 360 male heterosexual IDUs were sampled from streets of eight different geographical parts of Iran. Variables such as socio-demographics, HIV knowledge (10 items), and HIV attitude (16 items) were entered to a logistic regression to determine the predictors of unprotected anal intercourse during the past month.Results: From all, 20.8% reported unprotected anal intercourse during the past month. HIV knowledge was not significantly different among IDUs with and without unprotected anal intercourse. High age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.954, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.916–0.992] was associated with a lower likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse, while being not married (OR = 2.301, 95% CI = 1.151–4.601), and high perceived HIV risk (OR = 1.776, 95% CI = 1.376–2.290) were associated with a higher likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse.Conclusion: Although the results might not be generalizable to all Iranian IDUs, this study findings may still be helpful for design and implementation of public health programs in Iran to prevent sexual transmission of HIV through IDUs.
Highlights
People who engage in unprotected sex may have different motivations
High age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.954, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = 0.916– 0.992] was associated with a lower likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse, while being not married (OR = 2.301, 95% CI = 1.151–4.601), and high perceived HIV risk (OR = 1.776, 95% CI = 1.376–2.290) were associated with a higher likelihood of unprotected anal intercourse
Conclusion: the results might not be generalizable to all Iranian Intra-Venous Drug Users (IDUs), this study findings may still be helpful for design and implementation of public health programs in Iran to prevent sexual transmission of HIV through IDUs
Summary
People who engage in unprotected sex may have different motivations. Some people may want to show intimacy, romance, and trust to a sex partner through practicing unprotected sex [1]. Some other people may decline to use condom to express their masculinity and individual choice. Other individuals may practice unprotected sex to achieve more sexual pleasure [2]. Making more money is another possible reason for practice of unprotected sex among sex workers [3]. Considerable evidence has suggested that likelihood of HIV transmission by unprotected anal intercourse is several times higher than through unprotected vaginal intercourse [4]. Anal intercourse might be less common than oral or vaginal sex [6], it is still a common sexual mode among heterosexual couples [5]
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