Iran

Key Results in 2022-2023

Approximately 1.75 million rapid HIV test kits, 3.3 million condoms and 120 000 viral load and CD4 monitoring kits were procured to scale up HIV prevention and testing among vulnerable and key populations.
Nearly 800 physicians improved their capacity to deliver HIV prevention services, including PrEP.
More than 4000 adolescents and young people accessed mental health and or psychosocial support services.
HIV and harm reduction services for women at highest risk of HIV expanded following improved human capacity, infrastructure and access to commodities.
A response protocol was developed to addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in humanitarian and emergency settings.

Joint Programme Results

Iran continued to scale up HIV prevention, testing and treatment services, including differentiated service delivery among vulnerable and key populations with strategic support from the Joint Programme. About 6000 young people accessed HIV prevention and testing services, of whom 5200 were tested for HIV and know their status (UNICEF, UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat). Besides, close to 800 physicians working on HIV improved their capacity to deliver HIV prevention services including management of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and differentiated service delivery (UNHCR, UNICEF, UNDP, UNFPA, UNAIDS Secretariat).

HIV differentiated service delivery piloted in 20 districts and formal inclusion of men who have sex with men in the national HIV response improved access and quality of HIV prevention, testing and treatment services for vulnerable and key populations (WHO, UNAIDS Secretariat). These services were further strengthened through the procurement of approximately 1.75 million rapid HIV test kits, 3.3 million condoms and 120 000 viral load and CD4 monitoring kits to scale up HIV screening among vulnerable and key populations (UNICEF, UNDP, WHO). Additionally, a new model for the elimination of vertical transmissions, integrating peer outreach and social marketing approaches to promote HIV testing; training of 80 experts on vertical elimination through South-South cooperation with the Ministry of Health Thailand; and salary support for 294 field staff, midwives and psychologists further improved access to these services among pregnant women and girls from hard-to-reach populations (UNICEF, UNDP, WHO).

HIV incidence per 1000 uninfected populations

Source: AIDSinfo

AIDS mortality per 1000 population

Source: AIDSinfo

Progress towards 95-95-95 targets

Source: AIDSinfo

In addition, 120 youth volunteers from the Iranian Red Cresent Society received training on HIV and drug prevention in emergency settings and reached 4000 adolescents and young people with psychosocial support services (UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS Secretariat). In five provinces, 150 adolescents living with HIV and about 700 family members accessed mental health and psychosocial support services (UNICEF).

The Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance (IBBS) among people who inject drugs showed a 1.3% decrease in HIV prevalence among this group (WHO). In addition, HIV and harm reduction services for women at highest risk of HIV improved thanks to increased human capacity, equipment, and infrastructure support; including provision of 190 000 needles, syringes and sanitary utensils for women who use drugs and 1240 doses of hepatitis C vaccines for various facilities serving this group (UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC). In two provinces, more than 200 harm reduction service providers improved their capacity of delivering psychosocial support for women who use drugs (UNODC). Additionally, the qualitative review of harm reduction centres in Tehran resulted in the establishment of three safe consumption rooms in the city (UNODC).

As part of the Global Partnership for Action to Eliminate All Forms of HIV-related Stigma and Discrimination, Iran developed a response protocol for addressing HIV-related stigma and discrimination in humanitarian and emergency settings and completed the Stigma Index 2.0 study in collaboration with national and global networks of people living with HIV and other partners (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat). Stigma and discrimination sensitive HIV services, including post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) were also integrated into the service package for people who experienced sexual assault, in partnership with the Iranian Legal Medicine Organization (UNDP, UNAIDS Secretariat).