Journal of School of Public Health and

  Background and Aim: probably after pestilence, HIV/AIDS is most important and severe health threat for public health. Prisons could facilitate the spread of HIV/AIDS and Hepatitis and transmit it to societies. The main strategy to control HIV/AIDS and hepatitis among Injecting Drug Users is Harm Reduction Programs. These programs are conducted in Iran Prisons. The goal of this study is to evaluate Harm reduction Programs including Methadone Maintenance Therapy (MMT) and Needle exchange from the viewpoint of prison staff in Iran including principals, managers, physicians and counselors.

  Materials and Methods : It was a cross sectional study in which 370 prison staff working in prisons all around the country were evaluated to assess their viewpoint and insight about Harm reduction Programs including Methadone Maintenance therapy and Needle exchange.

  Results: A percentage of 95.23 of prison managers and experts had a positive view toward Methadone Maintenance therapy. 70.25 percent had a positive insight toward needle exchange program. The employment type and work experience was significantly (p<0.05) related to the viewpoint of managers and experts towards Methadone Maintenance therapy program. Age was the only factor that had a significant relationship (p<0.05) with Needle exchange program.

  Conclusion: MMT has lots of supporters in prisons. The positive insights of managers and experts towards methadone maintenance therapy program demonstrate the high level of staff’s approval for conducting this program it could be interpreted as a sign of success of program in the country. However there is not a comprehensive approval and collaboration with needle exchange program in prisons. Nevertheless, it is alarming that 42.5% of staff believe that conducting methadone maintenance therapy may increase and intensify addiction in prisons.