Development of Iranian Provinces in Terms of Health Indicators Using Weighted Centrality and Numerical Taxonomy Methods

The healthcare sector plays an important role in the development of communities by ensuring the health of individuals in each community and can have many social and economic effects on the lives of individuals in the community. The purpose of this study was to determine the development of the country’s provinces based on health facilities and the level of access to these facilities, to find solutions to reduce differences between different parts of the country.

This study was an applied study with a descriptive-analytical approach. In this study, 31 provinces of the country have been studied in terms of 10 indicators. Data and information of this study were extracted from the national statistical yearbook and ranked using Center-weighted index method by using Excel software. Then, using taxonomy method, the degree of development of the provinces has been determined. 

The results of the study show that South Khorasan province with a centrality index of 45,692 is in the first place, Yazd province with a centrality index of 43,933 is in the second place and Ilam province with a centrality index of 40,668 is in the third place. East Azerbaijan province with a centrality index of 27,375 is ranked 29th, Qom province with a centrality index of 25,417 is ranked 30th and Hormozgan province with a centrality index of 24,286 is ranked 31st. The degree of development of the provinces is between 0.507 to 0.98, which in terms of development of Yazd province is in the first rank and Hormozgan province is in the last rank.

The results show that there is a deep gap between the provinces in terms of development and access to health indicators; Therefore, it needs more attention and adopt the necessary policies and plans to reduce this gap.