Immigration: a potential risk factor for intrafamilial transmission of HIV infection

Background: Injection drug users (IDUs) are at risk of HIV infection more than other groups. Also, immigration is a potent risk factor for HIV infection /AIDS. Saravan is a city in Southeast of Iran that men have to immigrate to other countries to work. Since, family deprivation is a risk factor for occurrence of infection in this group; we decided to define the prevalence of HIV infection in immigrant men and their families. Materials and methods: In this cross-sectional, descriptive study, in a time period of 5 months in 2005, in Saravan (Southeast of Iran), we evaluated the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the families of the men with HIV infection/AIDS who had a history of immigration to other countries. Blood samples of the mothers and children were evaluated by ELISA method and in those who had a positive test, results were confirmed with a more specific assay (western blot). Results: Among 274 patients with HIV infection/AIDS (224 male and 50 female) in Sistan and Baluchestan Province in Southeast of Iran, 65 cases (41 male, 24 female) were from Saravan (a city in Sistan and Baluchestan). Out of 41 men with HIV/AIDS in Saravan, 21 cases had a history of immigration to neighboring countries. Forty- five percent of women (11 cases) who had infected immigrant husbands, showed a positive test and they were infected with HIV. Also, HIV test was positive in 3 children of families whom their fathers were infected immigrants. Fifty-one percent of men with HIV/AIDS had the history of immigration. Conclusion: Upon these results, immigration and family deprivation are potent risk factors for occurrence of infection.