Evaluation of rural primary health care services in Iran: report on vital statistics in West Azarbaijan

Iranian indigenous front-line health workers (FLHW) were locally trained to deliver environmental and primary health care services to mothers and children. After two years, there was a significant decline in crude birth and death rates and in infant and 1-5 year mortality rates in the test area as compared to a control area. One out of four encounters was referred to a health center physician, the remainder being handled by the FLHWs themselves. (Am J Public Health 1981;71:739-742.)