Journal of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences

Background and Objective: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) as a major health challenge has close relationship with high-risk behaviour. Patterns and changes in risk behaviour associated with HIV are important factors in creating a community-level HIV epidemic. The current study examined the prevalence and patterns of risky behaviour before and after the diagnosis of HIV-positive individuals.

Materials and Methods: In this cross-sectional study, 130 HIV-positive people were selected through census method in Rafsanjan health center 1 (n = 55) and Kerman behavioral diseases center (n = 75) in 2012. The patients were interviewed thrugh of checklist made by resercher by a psychiatrist and necessary information was collected before and after the diagnosis of HIV infection. Data were analyzed using chi-square, Fisher's exact, and McNemar's tests.

Results: The mean age of patients was 40.12 ± 8.20 years and most of them were male. Before HIV diagnosis, the frequencies of injecting drugs, the use of collaborative injection tools and unprotected sexual behavior were  61.5%, 43.1% and 40%, respectively.

Conclusion: According to findings, the probable cause of the high-risk behavior for HIV infection in this study was similar to the national pattern. Risky behavior had significant changes in different directions after diagnosis.

Key words: Frequency, Risky behavior, AIDS, HIV, Behavioral diseases center

Funding: This research was funded by Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences.

Conflict of interest: None declared.

Ethical approval: The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, approved the study.

How to cite this article: Torkashvand F, Asadpor M, Sheikh Fathollahi M, Sheikhi E, Salehi Shahrbabaki M.H, Hoseini OR, Bakhtar M, Bidaki R. Frequency of High Risk Behaviour in HIV Positive Patients Referred to Centers for Behavioural Disorders of Rafsanjan and Kerman in 2012. J RafsanjanUniv Med Sci 2015 14(7): 587-98. [Farsi]