July 22, 2016
Deputy Health Minister Ali-Akbar Sayari says the transmission of HIV/AIDS by sexual intercourse is on the rise and blames the reluctance to discuss sex for the rise. Historically, HIV-AIDS in Iran has been overwhelmingly the result of drug addicts exchanging needles. A great deal of publicity has been given to that fact in an effort to cut down on the disease. But Sayari says over the last decade the segment of the population suffering from HIV/AIDS as a result of sexual intercourse has doubled from 15 percent to 30 percent. The majority of transmissions, however, continue to be via syringes.