Case Study on Iran: The Success of the Primary Health

Care Network

Farzaneh RoudiPopulation Reference Bureau

Global and national efforts

International call: “Health for All” by 2000

Pilot projects in Iran: early 1970s

International Conference on Primary Health Care: Alma Ata 1978

Iranian revolution: 1979

Major change to the health system

+

Ministry of Health

Office of Higher Education for Medicine

Ministry of Health and Medical Education

Primary Health Care Network District Health

Network Management

Urban Health

Centers

Health Station

Health Station

Health Station

Rural Health

Centers

Health House

Health House

Health House

District Health Center

General Hospital

Behvarz Training

Population increasing rapidly

34

49

1976 1986

Millions

Growing at

3.9% a year

National and global efforts

War ended in 1988: reconstruction efforts

Data collected: grim economic outlook

National family planning program: 1989

International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD): 1994

Fertility by province, 2000

Child mortality declined

70

33

1985 1996

5> deaths per 1,000 live-births

Maternal mortality declined

140

37

1985 1996

Maternal deaths per 100,000 live-births

Family Planning Use

75 75 74 73 71

6360

56

France Germany Iran UnitedStates

Turkey Tunisia Egypt Jordan

Percent of married women (15-49) using family planning

Family planning use, 2000

Percent married women using contraception

55 57

2210

Urban Rural

Modern Traditional

Women’s literacy increased

17

62

1976 1996

Percent of rural women who are literate

Population by sex and age, 2000

Conclusions

Iran’s primary health care network is both elaborate (but not complex!) and simple at the same time.

Other countries can benefit from the Iranian experience.