2004 · 27 citations · 0 references
Public HealthHealth PolicyPopulation Health SciencesHealth EquityPopulation HealthRural HealthChild MortalityInfant MortalityNeonatal MortalityRural Health EquityRural Health PolicyVital RatesInfant Health DisparitiesInfant Mortality AnalysisInfant Mortality ReductionPrimary Health Care AccessRural Health InequalitiesRural Mortality DifferentialsRural Population HealthSocioeconomic Health Disparities
Rural households in Iran have traditionally been the most disadvantaged segment of Iranian society, not only in terms of income and political power but also in accessing basic public services, including health. A major achievement of public policy in Iran over the past 20 years has been the improvement of rural health and the near elimination of health disparities between higher-income urban populations and the rural poor. For example, in 1974 the infant mortality rate was 120 and 62 per thousand live births for rural and urban areas, respectively. By 2000, however, both the level and the differential of infant mortality had declined considerably, to 30 for rural areas and 28 for urban ones.