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Gender Differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors Among Population With Substance Use Disorders, Iran Publisher



Merghati Khoei E1 ; Mohraz M2 ; Mohammadi S3 ; Brady KT4 ; Killeen T4 ; Korte JE5 ; Rezaei Z6
Authors
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Authors Affiliations
  1. 1. Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  2. 2. Iranian Research Center for HIV/AIDS, Iranian Institute for Reduction of High-Risk Behaviors, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
  3. 3. Health Metrics Research Center, Iranian Institute for Health Sciences Research, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
  4. 4. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, United States
  5. 5. Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, SC, United States
  6. 6. Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Science, Gonabad, Iran

Source: Journal of Substance Use Published:2023


Abstract

Objective: We examined gender differences in Sexual Risk Behaviors (SRBs) in Iranian individuals with Substance Use Disorders (SUDs). Methods: A cross-sectional study conducted from late 2018 to the end of 2019 in Tehran province, Iran. Six outpatient drug-free (ODF) and methadone maintenance treatment program (MMTP) centers were selected. A total of 600 eligible participants (300 men; 300 women) were included in the study. Participants were investigated by trained interviewers using a questionnaire to collect information on SRBs. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 24. Results: Nearly 75% of participants (64% men and 84.3% women) reported at least one lifetime experience of SRBs. Men were 62% less likely than women to have SRBs. Also, 34.7% women and 3% men had reported sexual violence. Twenty-eight percent of women and 22% of men had a history of group sex. Sixty-nine women (23%) and 20 men (6.7%) reported having had sex with intravenous drug use (IDU) partner. During the past year, the majority of participants never consistently used condoms (83%) in their sexual encounters. Conclusions: Iranian women with SUDs are more likely to be involved in SRBs than their men counterparts. The differences highlighted in this study should inform treatment centers to include “safer sex” interventions in their treatment programs. © 2022 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
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1. Risky Sexual Behaviors and Condom Use Barriers in Iranian Women With Substance Use Disorders, Iranian Journal of Public Health (2023)
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