Strategies for improving the integrated program of HIV/AIDS with sexual and reproductive health: using nominal group technique

Abstract

Context: The spread of HIV is growing, so that its way of transmission has created worries in the field ofsexual and reproductive health, because the wave of transmission has changed from injection to sexualactivities.Aims: To evaluate the perspectives of sexual and reproductive health experts and providers on strategiesfor improving the integrated program of HIV/AIDS with sexual and reproductive health using the nominalgroup technique (NGT).Setting and Design: Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran. NGT.Materials and Methods: It was a semiquantitative/qualitative methodology research through NGT, basedon the opinions of 30 experts and sexual and reproductive health providers in the field of health inMazandaran (2016).Statistical Analysis Used: Semiquantitative/qualitative analysis.Results: In total, 15 cases got the scores of 2–62 as strategies to improve the integrated program of HIV/AIDS with sexual and reproductive health. The highest scores were found in society-centered level andstigma management, and the lowest scores were found in individual-centered level and negotiation skilltraining.Conclusion: One of the strategies to improve the integrated program of HIV/AIDS was the empowermentof women and men in sexual and reproductive health and stigma management. Based on the results, theNGT is a useful tool for doing researches and prioritizing the programs. Based on the expert opinion, it canbe concluded that designing strategies based on individual-, community-, and society-centered approachwould be an appropriate approach for improving the integrated program of HIV/AIDS with sexual andreproductive health issues in Iranian society.