AIDS Policies from the Perspective of University Professors

HIV has neither vaccine nor cure. Effective policies in changing high-risk behavior could be very effective in prevention management. Faculty members are important source in determining these policies. In this study, we aimed to choose high priority strategies about AIDS preventive policies from the perspective of faculty members. In this descriptive study, 180 participants were chosen based on Cochran’s sample size formula among all faculty members in Tabriz University and Tabriz University of Medical Sciences in 1388. Data collection tool was a researcher-made questionnaire which its reliability and validity were confirmed by experts. Data were collected randomly and analyzed using SPSS software. In this study, 61.1% and 35% of faculty members disagreed with educational intervention in order to provide information about AIDS prevention for elementary and guidance school students respectively, 88.3% and 83.9% agreed on educational intervention in order to provide information about prevention and sexual issues by healthcare centers along with family physicians respectively, 81.7%, 81.1% 73.9%, 75.6%, 72.2% agreed on providing counseling services and guiding patients that were referred to health centers, educating prevention skills to university students, promoting prevention skills for high school students, educating prevention skills by mass media to the public and adding HIV routine tests for vulnerable groups, respectively. With regard to the findings of this study and comparing with similar studies and the fact that young adults comprise the majority of Iran's population and are at risk of the emerging diseases, it is necessary that health system officials develop comprehensive educational intervention programs and strategies in order to provide trainings for children and teenagers especially for vulnerable people such as drug users.