The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran
Background: Poor diagnosis remains a significant barrier to effective HIV control in Iran. A web-based screening programcould provide a novel approach to address this challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based HIV screening program for identifying indivi...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Shiraz University of Medical Sciences
2025-01-01
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| Series: | Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System |
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| Online Access: | https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_50677_a5edddaad00ec502de1aca3d3ac91a72.pdf |
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| author | Roya Sahebi Hossein Dehghanian Alireza Mirahmadizadeh Leyla Sahebi Reza Yousefi Farkhad Simin Khayatzadeh-Safaie Nazila Sattari Leila Jahangiry Hamid Sharifi |
| author_facet | Roya Sahebi Hossein Dehghanian Alireza Mirahmadizadeh Leyla Sahebi Reza Yousefi Farkhad Simin Khayatzadeh-Safaie Nazila Sattari Leila Jahangiry Hamid Sharifi |
| author_sort | Roya Sahebi |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Poor diagnosis remains a significant barrier to effective HIV control in Iran. A web-based screening programcould provide a novel approach to address this challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based HIV screening program for identifying individuals with high-risk HIV behaviors in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an educational website where individuals could anonymously complete a risk assessment questionnaire. Those with a history of high-risk behaviors were invited to attend voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers for HIV testing. Various strategies, including text messages, Instagram posts, and advertisements on local health center websites, were employed to promote website visitation.Results: The website received 11,581 visits from 4,303 unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Of these, 3,079 visitors (71.0%) accessed the questionnaire section, and 456 (14.8%) completed the questionnaire. Nine respondents (1.97%) were under 16 years old and were excluded. Among the remaining 447 participants, 254 (56.8%) were from Tabriz City. Of these, 180 (70.9%) reported engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors, drug use, or occupational exposure. Notably, this group’s five individuals (2.8%) reported visiting VCT centers after completing the questionnaire.Conclusion: Developing an educational website combined with targeted promotion appears to be a feasible and potentially effective strategy for increasing awareness of HIV and motivating individuals to seek testing. Incorporating online counseling and interactive educational materials managed by trained professionals may enhance the program’s impact. Further studies are recommended to comprehensively evaluate this approach’s feasibility and acceptability. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-418fc2752b9249d99977689baa6296bd |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2345-2218 2345-3893 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-01-01 |
| publisher | Shiraz University of Medical Sciences |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System |
| spelling | doaj-art-418fc2752b9249d99977689baa6296bd2025-02-02T06:03:21ZengShiraz University of Medical SciencesJournal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System2345-22182345-38932025-01-0113110711310.30476/jhsss.2024.100769.184950677The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in IranRoya Sahebi0Hossein Dehghanian1Alireza Mirahmadizadeh2Leyla Sahebi3Reza Yousefi Farkhad4Simin Khayatzadeh-Safaie5Nazila Sattari6Leila Jahangiry7Hamid Sharifi8Tabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran, Student Research Committee, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranNational Public Health Management Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranNon-Communicable Diseases Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, IranMaternal-Fetal and Neonatal Research Center, Family Health Research Institute, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, IranDrug and Laboratory Department, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranDepartment of Communicable Disease Control, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranVoluntary Counseling and Testing Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranTabriz Health Services Management Research Center, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, IranHIV/STI Surveillance Research Center, and WHO Collaborating Center for HIV Surveillance, Institute for Futures Studies in Health, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, IranBackground: Poor diagnosis remains a significant barrier to effective HIV control in Iran. A web-based screening programcould provide a novel approach to address this challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of a web-based HIV screening program for identifying individuals with high-risk HIV behaviors in Iran.Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using an educational website where individuals could anonymously complete a risk assessment questionnaire. Those with a history of high-risk behaviors were invited to attend voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) centers for HIV testing. Various strategies, including text messages, Instagram posts, and advertisements on local health center websites, were employed to promote website visitation.Results: The website received 11,581 visits from 4,303 unique Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Of these, 3,079 visitors (71.0%) accessed the questionnaire section, and 456 (14.8%) completed the questionnaire. Nine respondents (1.97%) were under 16 years old and were excluded. Among the remaining 447 participants, 254 (56.8%) were from Tabriz City. Of these, 180 (70.9%) reported engaging in high-risk sexual behaviors, drug use, or occupational exposure. Notably, this group’s five individuals (2.8%) reported visiting VCT centers after completing the questionnaire.Conclusion: Developing an educational website combined with targeted promotion appears to be a feasible and potentially effective strategy for increasing awareness of HIV and motivating individuals to seek testing. Incorporating online counseling and interactive educational materials managed by trained professionals may enhance the program’s impact. Further studies are recommended to comprehensively evaluate this approach’s feasibility and acceptability.https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_50677_a5edddaad00ec502de1aca3d3ac91a72.pdfacceptabilityfeasibilityhivplausibilityweb-based screening |
| spellingShingle | Roya Sahebi Hossein Dehghanian Alireza Mirahmadizadeh Leyla Sahebi Reza Yousefi Farkhad Simin Khayatzadeh-Safaie Nazila Sattari Leila Jahangiry Hamid Sharifi The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran Journal of Health Sciences and Surveillance System acceptability feasibility hiv plausibility web-based screening |
| title | The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran |
| title_full | The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran |
| title_fullStr | The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran |
| title_short | The Feasibility and Acceptability of an HIV Web- Based Screening Program in Iran |
| title_sort | feasibility and acceptability of an hiv web based screening program in iran |
| topic | acceptability feasibility hiv plausibility web-based screening |
| url | https://jhsss.sums.ac.ir/article_50677_a5edddaad00ec502de1aca3d3ac91a72.pdf |
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