Community Health Workers’ Perspectives on Their Contribution to Rural Health and Well-Being in Iran

Datos Bibliográficos

ID11033403
AutoresSara Javanparast (0000-0002-0388-5524, Sara Javanparast is with the South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Fran Baum is with the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University. Ronald Labonte is with the Institute of Population Health and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. David Sanders is with the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.), Franziska Baum (0000-0002-2294-1368, Flinders University), Fran Baum (Sara Javanparast is with the South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Fran Baum is with the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University. Ronald Labonte is with the Institute of Population Health and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. David Sanders is with the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.), Ronald Labonté (0000-0002-0615-740X, Sara Javanparast is with the South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Fran Baum is with the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University. Ronald Labonte is with the Institute of Population Health and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. David Sanders is with the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.), David Sanders (0000-0003-1266-9361, Sara Javanparast is with the South Australian Community Health Research Unit (SACHRU), Flinders University, Adelaide, South Australia. Fran Baum is with the Southgate Institute for Health, Society and Equity, Flinders University. Ronald Labonte is with the Institute of Population Health and the Department of Epidemiology and Community Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. David Sanders is with the School of Public Health, University of Western Cape, Cape Town, South Africa.)
Año2011
Volumen101
Número12
Páginas2287-2292
Fecha de publicación2011-12-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessNo
TipoARTICLE
RevistaAmerican Journal of Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0090-0036 • E-ISSN: 1541-0048
EditorialAmerican Public Health Association (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.2105/ajph.2011.300355
PMID22021303
PMCIDPMC3222427
OpenAlexW2160249084
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas8
Referencias citadas6

Objectives. The activities of community health workers (CHWs) have been identified as key to improvements in the health of Iran's rural population. We explored the perceptions of CHWs regarding their contribution to rural health in Iran. Methods. Three research assistants familiar with the Iranian primary health care network conducted face-to-face interviews with CHWs in 18 provinces in Iran. Results. Findings showed that Iranian CHWs have an in-depth understanding of health, including its social determinants, and are responsible for a wide range of activities. Respondents reported that trust-based relationships with rural communities, an altruistic motivation to serve rural people, and sound health knowledge and skills are the most important factors facilitating successful implementation of the CHW program in Iran. By contrast, high workload and the lack of a support system were mentioned as barriers to effective performance. Conclusions. The CHW program in Iran is a compelling example of comprehensive primary health care, in that CHWs provide basic health care but also work with community members and other sectors to address the social determinants of health

Community health · Community health workers · Economic growth · Environmental health · Health care · Health services · Population · Public health · Rural area · Rural health · Social determinants of health · Work (physics) · Workload · Global Health Workforce Issues · Global Maternal and Child Health · Medicine · Nursing · Psychology · Public Health Policies and Education