Local Organizations Participation in Health Centers Performing Rural Insurance and Family Physician Program in Northern Provinces of Iran

Participation of people and local organizations can be achieved by activities of the Board of Trustees and health volunteers. This study was conducted to evaluate the participation rate of local organizations in health centers performing rural insurance and family physician program in the Northern provinces of Iran. This cross-sectional study was conducted during the second half of 2012. Twenty five per cent of health centers performing family physician program in three provinces of Golestan، Mazandaran، and Gillan (139 centers out of 552 ones) were selected randomly from certain clusters of the study. In each selected center، participation rate of local organizations were evaluated. A validity and reliable researcher-made questionnaire was used for data gathering. Data were analyzed in the SPSS-18 with significant level of p<0. 05. Fifty seven health centers out of 139 ones (41%) had established a Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees establishment was more in the Northern provinces (p=0. 001). In 61 health centers (43. 9%)، health volunteers were employed with a more significant employment rate in the Northern provinces (p=0. 001). The mean request rate of health homes and health centers from local organizations to take part in health problem solving were 2. 7 ± 1. 6 and 1. 7 ± 1. 3 times، respectively. The request rate for providing resources and facilities in performing health interventions were 1. 8 ± 1. 3 and 1. 1 ± 1. 0 times، respectively; and the request rate for participation in formal meetings were 3. 1 ± 1. 7 and 1. 9 ± 1. 3، respectively. The request rates of health homes for providing resources and participation in formal meetings were significantly different in the provinces (p=0. 009 and p=0. 005، respectively). This study showed that a large number of health centers did not follow community participation measurements. Interventional programs should be planned and conducted to improve community participation in health centers.