hossein malek

HIV/AIDS has been concentrated among injecting drug users in the country. This study aimed to investigate and identify health and treatment needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran. This qualitative study was conducted in 2012 in Iran. The study groups consisted of experts, practitioners, and consultants working with People Living with HIV/AIDS and their families. Data was collected through Focus Group Discussions and deep interviews. Data were analyzed using content analysis method. The findings of this study included the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS, which were classified in three main categories. The first category was prevention and counseling services with several sub-groups such as education and public and available consultation, distribution of condoms to vulnerable groups, increasing counseling centers in urban areas, providing appropriate psychological and supportive counseling, and family planning services. The second category included diagnostic and treatment services and had several sub-groups such as full retroviral treatment, Tuberculosis treatment and continuing care, providing care and treatment for patients with hepatitis, and providing dental services. The third category included rehabilitation services and had some sub-categories such as home care, social and psychological support, nutritional support, and empowering positive clubs. This study puts emphasis on making plans based on the priorities to meet the needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in Iran.

Current evidence consistently confirm inequalities in health status among socioeconomic groups, gender,ethnicity, geographical area and other social determinants of health (SDH), which adversely influence health of the population. SDH refer to a wide range of factors not limited to social component, but also involve economic, cultural,educational, political or environmental problems. Measuring inequalities, improving daily living conditions, andtackling inequitable distribution of resources are highly recommended by international SDH commissioners in recentyears to ‘close the gaps within a generation’. To measure inequalities in socio-economic determinants and core healthindicators in Tehran, the second round of Urban Health Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART-2)was conducted in November 2011, within the main framework of WHO Centre for Health Development (Kobe Centre). For ‘assessment’ part of the project, 65 indicators in six policy domains namely ‘physical and infrastructure’,‘human and social’, ‘economic’, ‘governance’, ‘health and nutrition’, and also ‘cultural’ domain were targetedeither through a population based survey or using routine system. Survey was conducted in a multistage random sampling,disaggregated to 22 districts and 368 neighborhoods of Tehran, where data of almost 35000 households (118000 individuals) were collected. For ‘response’ part of the project, widespread community based development (CBD) projects were organized in all 368 neighborhoods, which are being undertaken throughout 2013. Following the first round of Urban HEART project in 2008, the second round was conducted to trackchanges over time, to institutionalize inequality assessment within the local government, to build up community participationin ‘assessment’ and ‘response’ parts of the project, and to implement appropriate and evidence-based actionsto reduce health inequalities within all neighborhoods of Tehran.

The increased recognition of ethical problems has contributed to the resurgence of ethics in relation to health care, and to the emergence of medical ethics as a new collaborative discipline in the world. The growing trends in biomedical technologies have been associated with increasing discussions about ethical aspects of the new knowledge in different societies. Advances in genetics, stem cell research, and organ transplantation are some of the medical issues that have raised important ethical and social issues in different countries. Given the special attention that has been paid toward moral ethics in Islam, an emphasis on ethics has been also voiced by medical and religious professions in Iran. In the recent decade, great strides have been made in biomedical ethics, especially in the field of education, research, and legislation. In this article, a brief history, and some of the activities in the field of medical ethics that are carried out have been reviewed. Results & Establishment of the National Committee for Medical Research and Regional Committee of Ethics for Medical Research, and compiling the National codes of ethics in biomedical research are the main early activities carried out during 1990s. A comprehensive strategic plan for medical ethics in the national level has been introduced in 2002. After implementation of this plan, considerable activities are being carried out that most important related activities will be also reviewed in this paper.