RESUMO
This case-control study evaluated the factors influencing volunteering in the Islamic Republic of Iran's Women's Health Volunteer [WHV] programme/which is implemented in 150 centres in Khorasan-e-Razavi Province. We recruited 145 cases [volunteers] and 146 controls [non-volunteers] from the centres. Data were collected by questionnaire. Sociodemographic variables included were: length of residence in neighbourhood, number of siblings, husband's age and education and job, family size, quality of life, self-rated health status, neighbourhood intimacy, child under 2 years, house ownership, wealth index. Social network variables included were: ego network size, type of acquaintance, intimacy with others, relationship communication, relationship duration, emotional support, advisory support, monetary support, physical support, time support. There were significant associations [P < 0.05] between women's propensity to volunteer and family size, presence of a child under 2 years in the family, neighbourhood Intimacy, social network composition, and emotional and advisory support