Iranian Rehabilitation Journal

en Causal association between Cognitive Impairments and Risk Behaviors in Drugs Users in Iran: Using Coarsened Exact Matching Method مطالعات اعتیاد Addiction پژوهشي Original Research Articles Introduction:  cognitive impairments (CIs) are prevalent among drug users. Some studies have shown that substance users with CIs are likely to be involved in high-risk sexual behavior. The primary aim of our study was to determine the Causal association between cognitive impairments and risk behaviors in people substance users in Iran. Method:  we applied a cross-sectional study among substance users between Jun 2022 and March 2023. Samples were recruited using snowball sampling and convenient sampling in 4 cities in Iran. Data collection was performed by trained interviewers. For data analysis coarsened exact matching (CEM) was applied to examine the causal association between CIs on injection and sexual risk behaviors. Result : The result of final multivariable regression model  reveled that substance abusers with CIs were more likely to have  unprotected sex in three past month as compared to abusers without CIs status (OR: 2.3 95% CI: 1.4, 4.7). Conclusion: The findings suggest that to improve and strength HIV risk-reduction interventions need to be given more attention to screening for CIs among substance users.   Coarsened Exact Matching, Cognitive Impairments (Cis), Causal Association 0 0 http://irj.uswr.ac.ir/browse.php?a_code=A-10-751-1&slc_lang=en&sid=1 Mehdi Noroozi noroozimehdi04@gmail.com No Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Mohammad Esmaiel Mohammadmotlagh25@gmail.com Yes Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine , Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences. Ahvaz, Iran Omid Massah om.massah@uswr.ac.ir No Researcher of addiction medicine , Substance abuse and Dependence Research Center, Social Health Research Institute, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Sara Sarmadi sara@gmail,com No General physician ,University of Pecs Medical School , Pécs, Hungary. Rosa Alikhani rosa.alikhani@gmail.com No Department of Psychiatry, University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences, Tehran, Iran Fardin Alipour barbodalipour@gmail.com No Professor of Social Work ,Social Welfare Management Research Center Ameneh Pooresmaeil Dorosteh am.pooresmaeili@gmail.com No Health Education and Promotion ,Social Determinants of Health Research Center Social Health Research Institute University of Social Welfare and Rehabilitation Sciences.