The Rural Health Worker as a Family Planning Provider: A Village Trial in Iran

The Kavar Village health worker project recruited local men and women and trained them to serve as health workers with family planning as 1 of their responsibilities. 14 months after the workers were deployed in this rural project (in May 1975) a survey was conducted to determine their effect on family planning knowledge attitudes and practice. The 16 project villages were compared with matched control villages. In the health worker villages 28% of married women aged 15-44 were using contraceptives compared with 15% in control villages (p less than .01). In every age group except the 40-44 age group health worker villages had higher contraceptive use. Maximum impact seemed to be among women aged 25-34 whose use was 33-39% compared with 14-20% in control villages. The health worker villages also had a slightly lower termination rate. Both sets of villages had more than 90% of married women responding they knew 1 or more contraceptive methods. However health workers had a significant effect on knowledge about the pill. Most of the married respondents in both sets of villages approved of contraception either completely or with qualifications. Sex of health worker did not appear to be significant. The auxiliary health worker is called a viable means for developing countries to upgrade the health and living conditions of rural populations. An important part of this maternal and child health and lowering birthrates. This survey shows health workers are well-equipped to do this.