Investigation of job satisfaction amongst voluntary, counseling and testing centers and health centers in Iran.

BACKGROUND: Job satisfaction is the persons' feeling about their job and if personnel have not good feel to his work, can destroy all plans, intentionally or unintentionally. The present research aims to investigate and compare job satisfaction in the employees and therapists of Voluntary, Counseling and Testing Centers versus Health centers in 9 provinces of Iran. METHODS: All employees of Voluntary, Counseling and Testing Centers were included from Fars, Bushehr, Tehran, Isfahan, South Khorasan, Kurdistan, Kermanshah, Kerman, and Yazd provinces as case group and 103 staffs of similar Health centers selected with the same ratio as the staffs of Voluntary, Counseling and Testing Centers as control samples and answered to Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ). RESULTS: 50.5% of Health centers employees and 54% of Voluntary, Counseling and Testing Centers employees had high job satisfaction. The highest satisfaction levels were reported in Fars and Kurdistan provinces and the lowest satisfaction levels were reported in Kermanshah and Bushehr. CONCLUSION: According to the findings, in the Iranian treatment centers, the employees' satisfaction were at the same level regardless of their position and workplace. Also, the eastern and western regions of the country reported higher satisfaction score than the southern and central regions.

Prevalence of Sexually Transmitted Infections and Their Risk Factors among Female Sex Workers in Isfahan, Iran: A Cross-Sectional Study.

OBJECTIVES: Female sex workers (FSWs) are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and form a core group to facilitate STI spreading. We aimed to estimate the prevalence of STIs among FSWs who attended Female Harm Reduction Center of Isfahan, Iran, and to determine the association between risky behaviors and STIs. STUDY DESIGN: In a cross-sectional study, 99 FSWs were recruited and interviewed about demographic characteristics and risky behaviors. A trained midwife examined FSWs for genital ulcer, abnormal vaginal discharge, and cervicitis. Urine and genital specimens were collected and real-time polymerase chain reaction was performed to diagnose Neisseria gonorrhoeae, human papilloma virus (HPV), and Trichomonas Vaginalis. Data were analyzed via χ2 test and logistic regression in StataCorp software (version 11) with 95% confidence interval. RESULTS: Totally, 84.9% of FSWs reported STI symptoms, while 12.1% of them were infected with N gonorrhoeae, HPV, or T vaginalis. Human papilloma virus and gonorrhea prevalence rates were 5.7% and 8% in FSWs with STI-associated symptoms. Sexually transmitted infections showed significant association with duration of prostitution (odds ratio [OR]HPV = 1.009 [95% confidence interval [95% CI: 1.004-1.01]; ORgonorrhea = 1.01 [95% CI: 1.00-1.01]) and condom usage (ORHPV = 0.11 [95% CI: 0.012-0.98]; ORgonorrhea = 0.04 [95% CI: 0.005-0.33]). CONCLUSION: Due to the literature gap on the Iranian FSWs' sexual health and the intense stigma around this subject, in Iran, our results would be useful for developing an efficient intervention program. The prevalence of STIs in Isfahan FSWs can be controlled with programs such as consistent condom use and STI treatment. In addition, as just one-tenth of FSWs with an STI symptom were positive for an STI, symptomatic diagnosis of STIs might be insufficient.

Seroprevalence of hepatitis B markers among incarcerated intravenous drug users.

BACKGROUND: Drug injection is one of the most prominent risk factors for transmission of viral hepatitis. Prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) is generally higher in prisoners compared with the general population. The object of this study was to assess the markers of HBV and related risk factors among intravenous drug users (IVDU) in prisoners. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Through a cross-sectional study in 2012 HBV infection and its risk factors were assessed in prisoners with a history of intravenous drug use in Isfahan, Iran. A checklist was fulfilled for each participant and 5 ml blood was taken from each subject. Sera were analyzed for markers of the hepatitis B: Hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAg), antibody to hepatitis B virus surface antigen (HBsAb) and hepatitis B virus core antibody (HBcAb) by ELISA. We used Chi-square test and logistic regression model to analyze data and P < 0.05 was considered to be significant. RESULTS: All of the studied participants (n = 970) were men. The mean ± standard deviation of the age of the subjects was 32.61 ± 8.1 years and the majority of them had less than high school education. More than 40% of these men had a history of injection drug inside prison and 2.27% of them self-reported history of HBV infection. Of the 970 IVDU, 32 (3.3%) were positive for HBsAg. Among HBsAg + subjects, 23 (71.88%) were HBcAb+. 120 (12.37%) were found positive for isolated HBsAb, 45 (4.64%) for isolated HBcAb and 67 (6.9%) for both HBsAb and HBcAb. History of sharing needle (odds ratio: 2.25, 95% confidence interval: 1.09-4.65) had a significant association with HBsAg positivity. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that history of sharing needle had a significant association with HBsAg positivity. It seems that educational programs for injecting drug related behaviors, especially syringe sharing, are needed for IVDU.

Hepatitis C among Intravenous Drug Users in Isfahan, Iran: a Study of Seroprevalence and Risk Factors.

OBJECTIVES: Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is one of the major public health problems worldwide which is transmitted through contact with infected blood or blood products. One of the most prevalent modes of HCV transmission is injecting drug with unclean needles or syringes. Therefore intravenous drug users (IVDUs) are the most important group who should be considered. The aim of this study was to evaluate seroprevalence and risk factors of hepatitis C virus in IVDUs population. METHODS: The cross-sectional study was carried out on intravenous drug users who attended health and social care Drop-in centers during November 2008 to February 2009 in Isfahan province, Iran. Data was gathered using interviewer-administered questionnaire including demographic characteristics and main risk factors for HCV infection. 5ml venous blood sample was obtained from each subject. The HCV-Ab test was performed on all blood samples by ELISA. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistical methods and multiple logistic regressions by SPSS software, version 15. RESULTS: The mean age of participants was 31.77 ± 8.51. 503 (94.7%) were men and 28 (5.3%) were women. HCV seroprevalence was 47.1% (95% CI: 42.9, 51.3). The multiple logistic regressions demonstrated that history of tattooing (OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.02-2.90), history of imprisonment (OR 2.49, 95% CI 1.40-4.42) and sharing needles/syringes (OR 2.76, 95% CI 1.54-4.95) are significant predictors of risk of HCV in IVDU population. CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, according to the high prevalence of HCV infection among IVDUs and high adds of HCV infection from tattooing, sharing of needles/syringes and imprisonment, effective harm reduction programs should be expanded among IVDUs to prevent new HCV infections.

Identification of Patients with Hepatitis C Virus Infection in Persons with Background of Intravenous Drug Use: The First Community Announcement-based Study From Iran.

OBJECTIVES: Injection drug use plays the most important role in transmission of hepatitis C. In Iran, surveys have been conducted on various high risk groups but this is the first announcement based study for hepatitis C virus HCV prevalence among cases with history of intravenous drug using (IVDU) in the country. METHODS: The announcement-based detection and follow-up of patients with anti-HCV positive project in volunteers with history of intravenous drug using was conducted in Isfahan province. At the first step, six focus groups were conducted and 2 pilot studies were carried out in two cities to design the main study. Comprehensive community announcement was done in all of public places and for physicians. The volunteers were invited to Isfahan reference laboratories and the serum samples were sent to Infectious Diseases Research Center Laboratory in standard conditions and HCV-Ab was tested by ELISA method. RESULTS: In this study, 1,747 individuals that are estimated 50% of all expected intravenous drug users in the community were presented themselves. The most important reasons of success in recruiting volunteers in this study were the perfect propaganda, appropriate cooperation of lab staffs, continuous evaluation and good cooperation in Isfahan province administrations. HCV-Ab was detected in 34% of them and the HCV-Ab positives were sent for further follow-up procedures including confirmatory test, education, and treatment. CONCLUSIONS: In spite of some limitations to select real cases, this study was considered as a successful experience. Compared to the surveys in Iran on HCV prevalence in intravenous drug users, the results of this study, which was based on volunteers by announcement seems to be noteworthy.

Prevalence of HIV/HCV/HBV infections and drug-related risk behaviours amongst IDUs recruited through peer-driven sampling in Iran.

BACKGROUND: The control of blood-borne infections including HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) amongst injecting drug users (IDUs) is a challenge for health authorities in Iran. Hence, more reliable estimates of the levels of blood-borne infections and their associated factors are critically needed. METHODS: Active IDUs were recruited using peer-driven sampling in a bio-behavioural survey in 2008. Over 8 weeks, data were collected from adults living in a city in Isfahan Province who had injected drugs in the past month. Participants provided a whole blood sample and answered questions on sexual and drug-related risk characteristics. Participants were provided post-test counselling and a non-monetary incentive for their participation. Excluding two inactive cases, the initial recruits resulted in 2-8 waves of recruitment. RESULTS: Overall, 118 IDUs including three females participated. The estimated population proportions of HIV, hepatitis B, and HCV infections were 0.7% (95% CI, 0.6-2.3), 0.7% (95% CI, 0.1-2.1), and 59.4% (95% CI, 47.4-68.7), respectively. Responses indicated that 31% (95% CI, 20-44.5) of the IDUs ever shared a needle/syringe for drug injection, and 77% (95% CI, 65-84) had ever injected an addictive solution marketed widely as Temgesic. Multivariate analyses revealed that the high prevalence of HCV infection amongst IDUs is associated with the lifetime duration of drug injection (AOR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.01-1.34) and with having injected Temgesic (AOR, 4.73; 95% CI, 1.52-14.69). CONCLUSION: Our experience in Iran indicates that IDUs can be recruited effectively in a bio-behavioural survey through peer-driven sampling and using only a single primary incentive. The high prevalence of HCV associated with injecting Temgesic is important evidence for harm-reduction policies in Iran.