Ethical Considerations from the Viewpoint of Headquarters Experts on HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Strategic Program

BACKGROUND: The HIV control and prevention program is one of the Public Health programs that confronts with many ethical challenges. This study aimed to explore ethical considerations from the viewpoint of headquarters experts on HIV and AIDS prevention and control strategic plan. METHODS: In this qualitative study with content analysis design, focus group discussion method was utilized. After purposeful introduction of the experts and previous coordination about subject and time, two discussion sessions were held with the participation of six ministry and university headquarters experts of HIV control program. After frequent reviews of the data and using deductive content analysis, main themes and subthemes were categorized. In order to transformability of the findings to similar situations, the data were checked by three external reviewers. RESULTS: The participants agreed that HIV/AIDS control requires focusing on prevention, treatment, and support services, and considering the general population and all vulnerable groups. In this study, five main themes were emerged: informing and empowering to make autonomous decisions, observing confidentiality, prohibiting stigma and discrimination, and being accountable. CONCLUSIONS: The viewpoint of participants indicates on the more need to pay attention the mentioned ethical considerations when compiling and finalizing the program. Moreover, in addition to instructing moral norms in PH programs with a special look to HIV/AIDS and how to apply them in the formulation and implementation of program, systematic evaluation of the program by an ethical framework is recommended to ensure the achievement to the goals of program.