Evaluation of Family Physician Program Based on Family Health Indices

Family physician team is responsible for all of primary health care services including family planning. This study was evaluated the impact of Family physician program (FPP) on family health indices in cities of East- Azerbaijan.

In this study the whole population of 3 small cities (n=36000) were selected and the six -year (2000 to 2006) coverage of family planning of the couples were investigated based on available statistics. On the qualitative side، the files of 600 couples were selected through stratified and cluster sampling procedures and their documents were investigated.

After FPP، the number of physicians and midwives were doubled in urban health centers. Coverage of family planning services increased from 39. 7% to 66. 2%، use of condom method increased by 10% and OCP، IUD decreed by 6%. However the number of births was nearly unchanged in 7 years. The periodic examination of women and Pap smear increased significantly (P<0. 05).

FPP has achieved partial success in providing family healthcare services including periodic examination of women and Pap smear sampling. Therefore، revision of the Job description and performance assessment of family physician teams is recommended.