[Geographical distribution of human resources in mental health provision system in 2007]

ABSTRACT

The present research was carried out with the aim of providing a geographical map and the distribution of indices related to the distribution of human resources in the mental health system in Iran according to regions covered by different medical universities. This study was carried out using the data present in mental health system reports in the year 2007. Subsequent to the adjustment of indices, data were presented by drawing descriptive and interpolated maps using Arc GIS 9.2. Also, the amount of each evaluated index, minimum, maximum and standard deviation of each index in different areas were reported. In 2007 the nationwide means of covered population to total population of the country, covered urban population to total urban population, covered rural population to total rural population, proportion of covered health centers, to total health centers, proportion of covered health and treatment rural centers to the total, proportion of covered urban health and treatment centers to the total, and the proportion of covered health headquarters to the total were 54.8%, 36.9%, 96.2%, 97.5%, 97.1%, 50.4%, and 41.4% respectively. The individuals providing mental health services comprised 29282 assistants in nursing, 6529 health workers, 4595 trained general practitioners, 61877 health messengers, 692 psychiatrists, 27 child psychiatrists, 126 psychologists [56 clinical, 70 other], 652 professionals with master's degree in psychology [183 clinical, 469 other], 651 social workers, and 214 psychiatric nurses. There is favorable distribution of specialized human resources in the country's health system, however, there is an disparity between the distribution of specialized human resources and covered population