Multisectoral development for improved health outcomes: evaluation of community-based initiatives in the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Sheikh, M. R.; Afzal, M. M.; Ali, S. Z.; Hussain, A.; Shehzadi, R.

Community-based initiatives (CBI) are based on integrated multisectoral socioeconomic development with community participation and intersectoral support to improve the health and quality of life of the people. During 2005-06 the World Health Organization supported an evaluation of CBI in the Islamic Republic of Iran by collecting information from intervention villages on social capital and other indicators, with validation of the findings. The data showed some positive changes in the intervention areas compared with control villages. The evaluation suggests that the CBI approach is a useful tool for improving health and social indicators and providing mechanisms for community-based participation and intersectoral collaboration for health and development at the local level.

IRAN; COMPUTER software; CONFIDENCE intervals; INTERVIEWING; QUALITY of life; QUALITATIVE research; WORLD Health Organization; SOCIAL capital; DATA analysis; QUANTITATIVE research; COMMUNITY-based social services; SOCIAL context; CROSS-sectional method; EVALUATION of human services programs

Eastern Mediterranean Health Journal, 2010, Vol 16, Issue 12, p1231

1020-3397

Academic Journal

10.26719/2010.16.12.1231