Effat Merghati-Khoei, Shahnaz Rimaz, Jeffrey E. Korte, Sudie E. Back, Kathleen T. Brady, Masoumeh Abad, Neda Shamsalizadeh,
Volume 29, Issue 1 (1-2015)
Abstract
Background: Intimate partner violence (IPV) and risky sexual behaviors are serious and overlapping public health problems that disproportionately affect drug-involved women. Despite the fact that drug-using women experience extensive IPV, to date, no studies have investigated the association of IPV and risky sexual behaviors among drug-using women in Iran.
Methods : Drug-using women (N =120) were recruited from a rehabilitation center in Tehran from March to October, 2009. The Revised Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS2), a standardized questionnaire, was used to collect data regarding violence. We used t-test and logistic regression models to explore the relationship between IPV domains and specific sexual risk behavior outcomes using SPSS 21.
Results : The means (sd) for CTS2 domains were as follows: negotiation 4.29 (1.55), psychological violence 2.55 (1.51), sexual violence 0.37 (1.00), physical abuse 1.17 (1.49), injury 2.18 (1.97), and the mean total score was 1.69 (0.96). We found significantly higher injury scores, but lower sexual abuse scores among women with sexually-transmitted infection (STI) compared to women without STI (p-values 0.030 and <0.0001, respectively). In addition, we found that psychological abuse was positively associated with STI (p-value 0.03) and increased condom use (p = 0.010), possibly mediated through an increased likelihood of having multiple partners.
Conclusion : The findings revealed that in Iran drug-involved women experience high rates of IPV and that IPV is associated with increased risky sexual behavior. Implication: Preventive interventions for violence that are integrated within drug treatment programs, as well as harm reduction programs are highly recommended.
Arman Latifi, Effat Merghati-Khoei, Davood Shojaeizadeh, Saharnaz Nedjat, Ali Mehri, Gholamreza Garmaroudi,
Volume 31, Issue 1 (1-2017)
Abstract
Background: Various theory-based interventions (TBIs) have been done to prevent STI/HIV. The current study aimed at reviewing the TBIs for STI/HIV prevention in Iran.
Methods: We systematically searched 6 English and Persian electronic databases to identify TBIs conducted for STI/HIV prevention in Iran. General searches were conducted using PubMed MeSH terms. Articles were included if they were interventional and conducted using models and theories, aimed at reducing the risk of STIs, were quasi-experimental or experimental, and if their full text was available.
Results: Overall, 1042 studies were found. Finally, 13 original studies met our inclusion criteria. The findings indicated that HBM and TPB were the most frequently used theory/models. High school students and drug abusers were the most common target groups in the included studies.
Conclusion: The results revealed that the majority of the conducted TBIs contained a methodological weakness. Conducting randomized controlled trials is needed to evaluate the effectiveness of the TBIs.
Zoleikha Arabkari, Fardin Alipour, Masood Fallahi-Khoshknab, Effat Merghati-Khoei , Mercedeh Samiei , Yadollah Abolfathi Momtaz ,
Volume 38, Issue 1 (1-2024)
Abstract
Background: The concept of sexual health is used in health promotion, because sexual health is one of the important pillars of human health. Neglecting this aspect of health and its evaluation and measurement can affect the quality of sexual life and cause people to face challenges in their lives. This research aimed to review the range of questionnaires on sexual health and the concepts and dimensions they cover.
Methods: A systematic scoping review based on the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines from January 1, 2000, to January 31, 2023, was performed in 5 databases—including Scopus, Web of Science, PubMed, ProQuest, and Google Scholar—with the keywords extracted from MeSH. This study is a type of scoping review conducted within the framework of Arksey and O’Malley’s 5-step process.
Results: From a total of 1783 manuscripts found, 65 articles met the inclusion criteria. Having reviewed the questionnaires, 2 types of indicators—(1) nonspecific indicators for sexual health and (2) special indicators of sexual health based on 3 physical (sexual performance, sexual dysfunction, and sexual activity), psychological (sexual satisfaction, intimate relationships, and sexual compatibility), and social (interpersonal relationships and sexual well-being) dimensions—were obtained.
Conclusion: Despite the wide range of definitions and indicators used, a set of key indicators is apparent based on the results of this scoping review. These include knowledge and application of pregnancy prevention techniques, HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted infection prevention, sexual decision-making participation, sexual negotiation power, sexual communication skills, and sexual experiences and their impact on the quality of sexual life. This set of indicators can be systematically completed in each study based on the concept of promoting sexual health, however, additional indicators, take into account the sociocultural determinants of each society with sexual values and norms of the same cultural background.
