A comparative analysis of health equity in Iran's development plans

Health equity is a complex and multidimensional concept that refers to the fair distribution of health resources and opportunities. In developing countries, where resources are limited, ensuring health equity is a major challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the level of attention given to health equity in the development plans of Iran.

The full text of Iran's first to sixth development plans was qualitatively analyzed using a directed content analysis approach. The dimensions of health equity (availability, accessibility, adequacy, affordability, and appropriateness) were identified, and the frequency of each dimension was calculated using a cross-tabulation in SPSS software. The validity of the study was ensured through expert opinions and the agreement between evaluators using Cohen's kappa coefficient.

The results showed that the most attention was given to the dimension of accessibility (17.7%), followed by adequacy (12.4%), appropriateness (7.7%), affordability (4.3%), and availability (1.9 %).

Given the intricate and multifaceted nature of health equity, achieving equity in this domain necessitates a comprehensive and well-rounded approach. It is imperative to delve deeper into this matter within the framework of development programs, with program objectives and implementations aligned accordingly.