Prevalence of HIV infection among high-risk groups in Iran: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: In Iran, data relating to an updated prevalence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection among high-risk groups are lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence of HIV infection among high-risk groups in Iran through meta-analyses. Material and methods: Electronic scientific databases, including PubMed, SCOPUS, and Web of Knowledge were explored to identify relevant studies. Random effect model was used to estimate the pooled prevalence. Results: A total of 1,113 records were identified in initial search, out of which 43 reports were finally included in the study. The estimated overall prevalence among high-risk groups was 0.06%, which ranged from 0 among drug addict prisoners in the North to 0.2 among drug addicts in the South of Iran. Conclusions: Prevalence of HIV among high-risk groups in Iran is relatively low. The prevalence of HIV in high-risk groups in different parts of Iran has a different pattern. Due to significant prevalence of HIV in injecting drug users compared to other high-risk groups, there is a need to pay serious attention to this high-risk group and adopt preventive strategies.