Social Capital of Iranian Patients Living With Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome and Associated Factors; [Capital Social Des Patients Atteints Du Sida Et Facteurs Associes En Republique Islamique D’Iran] Publisher Pubmed



Ansari SK¹ ; Nedjat S² ; Jabbari H^{3, 4} ; Saiepour N⁵ ; Heris MJ⁶ Show Affiliations
Source: Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal Published:2015

Abstract

This study investigated the social capital of Iranian patients living with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the associated factors. In a cross-sectional study the Integrated Social Capital Questionnaire was filled by a sequential sample of 300 patients visiting a referral counselling centre in Tehran. The patients’ social capital scores were around 50% in the trust, social cohesion, collective action and cooperation and political empowerment domains. The groups and networks membership domain scored the lowest (27.1%). In regression analysis, employment status was significantly associated with groups and networks membership; age, marital status and financial status were associated with collective action and cooperation; period of disease awareness and marital status affected social cohesion and inclusion; and having risky behaviour affected empowerment and political action. Efforts are needed to enhance the social capital of those patients living with AIDS who are younger, unemployed, divorced/widowed, with risky behaviours and shorter disease awareness. © 2015, World Health Organization. All Rights Reserved.