Comparing the Main Reproductive Health Indices in Rural Areas of Isfahan province, Iran, before and after Family Physician Program Intervention during 2001-2011

Document Type : Original Article (s)

Authors

1 Associate Professor, Social Determinant of Health Research Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

2 Student of Medicine, School of Medicine AND Student Research Committee, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

3 Health Statistics Group, Isfahan Province Health Center, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Background: Health sector reform (HSR) has done in the Islamic Republic of Iran (I. R. Iran) as family physician program, in rural areas and urban regions of bellow-20-thousands population from 2005. The aim of this study was comparing the main reproductive health indicators before and after implementation of family physician program.Methods: In a trend study in 2012, we analyzed the reproductive health indices from 2001 to 2011 comparing indices in two intervals, 4 years prior and 6 years after introducing the family physician program in the Isfahan province, Iran. In the rural areas of Iran, personal, social and health data are collected on each person in the community covered by health houses and then are collected by health centers in which family physicians teams are presented. Afterward, data are gathered and assessed in district health centers. These data had been drawn from vital data software. This software existed in every Deputy Director at the District Health Centers. We assessed indicators such as neonatal mortality rate (NMR), infant mortality rate (IMR), under-5-year mortality rate (U5MR), and the percentage of the deliveries carried out by skilled attendance in hospital.Findings: The NMR decreased from 13.35 per 1000 live births to 8.8. The IMR decreased from 17.86 per 1000 live births to 14.2. The U5MR decreased from 21.06 per 1000 live births to 17.4.Conclusion: Following family physician program measurements, the main reproductive health indices such as NMR, IMR and U5MR have been decreased markedly in rural areas of the Isfahan province.

Keywords


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