a. rahimi movaghar

This qualitative study was conducted to identify reasons for not using condoms by people who inject drugs (PWID) in Iran.
 

Purposeful sampling was applied to recruit four groups [male PWID (n = 14), female PWID (n=6), service providers (n=8), and HIV/Addiction experts (n = 9)] into a qualitative study. Data were collected through focus group discussions (FGDs) or individual in-depth interviews. Data were analyzed using conventional content analysis.
 

The mean age was 44.0 years for male and 38.2 for female PWID. Qualitative analysis showed 16 themes for not using a condom, which were grouped in three main categories, including knowledge (3 themes), accessibility (4 themes), and individual barriers to use condoms (9 themes). Poor knowledge included low perceived level of risk, insufficient training, and misconceptions. Lack of access to condoms resulted from the country's new policy for population growth control and decrease in the number of pharmacies and harm reduction centers and prisons where condoms were previously distributed free of charge. Common reported individual barriers to condom use were poverty, homelessness, depression, low self-care, and low self-esteem, less pleasure, having sex under the influence of drugs, and stigma.
 

Both structural and individual factors may play a role as barriers to condom use among PWID.

The aim of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of drug use in Sam earthquake survivors eight month after the event.

A survey was carried out on 779 survivors, selected through field sampling from the Barn citizens aged 15 and above. An instrument made by the researchers was used to assess life time and current use of opioids, alcohol and cannabis as well as changes in use compared to the period of I month preceding the earthquake.

In this survey, 27.4 percent of men and 4.5 percent of women reported lifetime use of opium. In the eighth month following the earthquake the prevalence of daily opium use was 16.9 percent in men and 2.7 percent in women. In men, alcohol and cannabis were the most common drugs of abuse after opium. Women denied use of any illicit drugs except opium. In general, 20.5 percent of men and 2.3 percent of women reported an increase in the use of at least one illicit drug. A few subjects, however, reported a decrease in drug use.

The findings show that in the wake of disasters, especially in areas or populations where drug use is already common, an increase in use might occur; provision of preventive and treatment interventions is therefore necessary.