Perception and behaviors of HIV/AIDS patients: A qualitative study

Background: The number of AIDS patients is increasing worldwide including Iran. Patients' risky behaviors play an important role in this arising trend. Assessing the perception and behaviors may facilitate for clarifying and planning to reduce the incidence of the risky behaviors. This study aimed to investigate the perception and the behaviors of the HIV/AIDS patients.  

Methods: This qualitative study conducted in Counseling Behavior Center of Imam Khomeini Hospital for ten months .Data were obtained from an in-depth, semi-structured interview with an open - ended questionnaire applying purposeful sampling method. All interviews recorded and typed precisely  word by word and transcripts reviewed and checked again. Deducted themes from data coded and categorized.

Results: 45 out of 61 participants were HIV positive and 16 were AIDS patients. The age range was 21-24 years and 37.7% were female. Themes described in two sections: the first was perception section, which was about ways of  acquiring  the disease; and insufficient knowledge about the transmission and prevention of the disease. The second section assessed behaviors, which  included  a number of  high-risk behaviors, non-self-disclosure of disease and not using preventive methods.     

Conclusion: We concluded that more instructions or counseling in the field of transmission and disclosure of the disease is necessary to improve the social support.  AIDS instruction focusing on religious beliefs applying health behavioral change theories and endemic models of health education for supporting the community is recommended.