Primary health care and immunisation in Iran
Nasseri, K.; Sadrizadeh, B.; Malek-Afzali, H.; Mohammad, K.; Chamsa, M.; Cheraghchi-Bashi, M.T.; Haghgoo, M.; Azmoodeh, M.
Public Health 105(3): 229-238
1991
ISSN/ISBN: 0033-3506 PMID: 2062995 DOI: 10.1016/s0033-3506(05)80112-xDocument Number: 314974
Childhood immunization in Iran was assessed by a WHO EPI (World Health Organization, Expanded Program on Immunization) cluster survey method covering 2118 children aged 12-23 months in 1987. Complete immunization was defined as a minimum of 3 DPT (diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus), 3 OPV (oral polio vaccine), 1 BCG (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin), and 1 live attenuated measles vaccine by age 1 year. Iran's Primary Health Care system consists of a rural branch operated by mobile male and female teams, and an urban branch still in the process of changing from cure-oriented care to emphasis on health education, nutrition, and maternal-child health services. Complete immunization coverage by age 1 was better in rural areas, 44.1%, than in urban areas, 28.2%, and Teheran 34.9%. There was no relationship between immunization coverage and infant mortality rate, which is dominated by diarrhea. The reason for better coverage in rural areas is that village workers actively search out, visit and immunize children, while in urban areas provide physicians dominate care, but do not insist on immunization. Furthermore, in Teheran, BCG is not routinely given, which lowered the overall immunization coverage rate there.
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