Birth and death indicators in the Islamic Republic of Iran in 1984 and 1986

ABSTRACT

Birth and death indicators were examined through retrospective surveys conducted in 1985 and 1987 in the Islamic Republic of Iran, reviewing 1984 and 1986 events, to obtain infant mortality rate [IMR] and other necessary indicators for health planning and evaluation. Comparison between 1985 and 1987 surveys revealed 1. No major change in crude death rate [6.3 per 1000 in 1987 survey] had occurred. 2. IMR was 51 per 1000 live births in 1987 survey. 3. The proportion of death rate in children under 5 year to total death has dropped in rural areas from 55 per 100 to 48, and in towns from 32 to 29. 4. Still about 20 and 22 per 100 deaths in urban and rural areas respectively in under 5 children are due to diarrhea; the percentage of those due to infectious diseases in the same areas and age group is 30 and 32 per 100. 5. Birth rate has dropped from 40.4 to 37.7 per 1000; as a result, natural growth of population has decreased from 3.40 per 100 in the 1985 survey to 3.14 in 1987. 6. Maternal mortality rate has dropped considerably in rural areas, from 23 per 10,000 live births to 18