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Purpose Equal distribution of health human resources is a major issue to achieve human rights in healthcare. Rural family physicians (RFPs) as a part of health human resources play an important role in delivering health services, so the purpose of this paper is to calculate amount of inequity in distribution of RFPs in Iran. Design/methodology/approach In this study, the authors tried to find inequity in the distribution of RFPs in the provinces of Iran. For this purpose, inequity indices containing concentration curves and indices were calculated by ranking health-adjusted life expectancy (HALE). Furthermore, a regression model was estimated to find the pattern and influencing factors of inequity in the distribution of RFPs. Findings The number of male RFPs was significantly higher in Sistan va Baloochestan, and in the same line, the number of female RFPs was higher in Zanjan province. Concentration index of total RFPs was 0.0568 (not significant) (males= 0.041, females= 0.0718). The results of regression model showed that HALE and per capita GDP did not have any significant relationship with RFPs distribution (HALE p=0.753, GDP p=0.792). Originality/value The RFP plan was successful in enhancing equal access to physician and health care services relatively. However, gender imbalance in distribution of RFPs was high especially in less-developed regions.

Studying the relationship between crime and traffic accidents in different geographical regions is very critical since varying relationships have been reported to exist diverse areas. The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between crime with injuries and deaths due to road traffic accidents in Iran. Design/methodology/approach: In this study, macro level panel data between 2007 and 2013 were used. The number of folders due to crimes in each province was used as explanatory variable to show the amount of crime in each province. Number of fatal and injury death used as outcome variables. The models were estimated using fixed effect panel regression estimator. Findings: The results of this study showed that the number of records in courts (Cr) had a significant positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient=0.006). In Injury Accidents Model, Cr coefficient was 0.008 and significant. In addition, GINI had positive relationship with fatal accidents (coefficient: 1.396) while it had no significant relationship with injury accidents. Originality/value: A positive association was found between crime and mortalities and morbidities due to traffic accidents. Traffic accidents and crimes derived from a similar nature. So traffic accidents could be categorized as crime and it is important to increase more prohibitions to decrease traffic accidents. Prevention programs should focus on population groups with high social distinction and criminals, especially traffic offenses.

Background: Reliable estimation of prevalence is important for monitoring and evaluation of COVID-19 prevention programmes among at-risk populations. Aims: We compared the capture–recapture method with a seroprevalence survey for accurate estimation of the prevalence of COVID-19 during a 1-year period in Guilan Province, northern Islamic Republic of Iran. Methods: We used the capture–recapture method to estimate the prevalence of COVID-19. Records from the primary care registry system and the Medical Care Monitoring Center were compared, using 4 matching approaches based on combinations of the following variables: name, age, gender, date of death, positive or negative cases, and alive or dead cases. Results: The estimated prevalence of COVID-19 in the study population from the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020 until the end of January 2021 was 16.2–19.8%, depending on the matching approach used. This was lower than in previous studies. Conclusion: The capture–recapture method may provide better accuracy than seroprevalence surveys in measuring the prevalence of COVID-19. It may also reduce the bias in the estimation of prevalence and correct the misconception of policymakers about seroprevalence survey results.

Background Drowning has not been well recognised as a public health problem in many developing countries including Iran. Aims This work outlines the context of the programme; describes its design and implementation; and reviews key findings that emerged from the evaluation drowning prevention programme in northern Iran. Methods This article is complied based on cross-sectional study and two intervention study. Data for studies were derived from Death Registry System, Forensic Medicine, Weekly Report and household surveys. This project were located in border of Caspian Sea in northern Iran. Age group, gender, place and date of occurrence, external causes were assessed. Evaluation of the drowning prevention programme in the form of a quasiexperimental study and employed (1) pre and post interventional observations with a comparison community in a water recreational area of the Caspian Sea in northern Iran and (2) pre and post interventional observations without a comparison community in a rural area near the Caspian Sea coastline. Results The risk of fatality resulting from drowning was observed to be greater during the preimplementation period than throughout the implementation period (OR=1.65). The drowning prevalence in rural areas of the Caspian Sea coastline as compared to a WHO standardised population demonstrated a continuous decrease in the age specific drowning rate among the oldest victims with a gradual decline during implementation. Significance This effort suggests that the drowning prevention programme based on community based health promotion could help to both reduce the burden of drowning fatality and its related healthcare expenditure.

Background : The complexity of health and the role of its relevant socioeconomic factors have led countries to adopt new approaches to promote health, including the socialization of health. This comparative study aimed at examining the patterns of the social approach to health in 9 selected countries. Methods: Using the scoping review method, we collected the data by searching published articles in databases and the websites of the World Health Organization, the United Nations, and the World Bank. A total of 66 articles were included in the study based on the PRISMA protocol. Results : The thematic analysis showed that the most efficient model among middle-income countries was the one that consisted of good governance, effective social participation, and empowerment of mothers and children. The study findings also revealed that considering social welfare, governance, social participation, empowerment, and health literacy, Ecuador, Bulgaria, Egypt, and Cuba had the highest scores among the selected countries, respectively. We define socialization of health as public engagement in maintaining and promoting individual and social and psychological health in the society, a part of which is achieved through community-based medical education. Conclusion : In Iran, the centralized structure of the health system and inadequate transparency and accountability of the government have led to restricted public participation and poor intersectoral collaboration. We propose empowering civil society, setting up free political parties, and implementing the family medicine project as an effective policy for improving the socialization of health to achieve sustainable development goals in Iran.