Primary health care and immunisation in Iran

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Iran's Primary Health Care (PHC) network includes rural and urban components.
• The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) is integrating into the PHC network.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess immunisation coverage within Iran's PHC network.
• To identify factors influencing immunisation rates in rural and urban settings.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the second PHC programme review in Iran.
• Comparison of immunisation coverage between rural and urban areas, including Tehran.

Main Results:

• Child immunisation coverage has improved, with BCG at 56.3%.
• Complete immunisation by age one is 44.1% in rural areas vs. 28.1% in urban areas (excluding Tehran).
• Rural coverage is linked to active community health worker engagement; Tehran's coverage is influenced by private paediatricians and socioeconomic factors.

Conclusions:

• Iran's PHC network shows improved immunisation rates, particularly in rural areas.
• Methodological considerations for immunisation coverage assessment in urban settings are crucial.
• Complete immunisation may not be the sole indicator of successful immunisation programs.