Health indicators in the pilot villages of BDN in Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province

The basic development needs (BDN) are effective on human health. Since there was no research about the effects of BDN on the health indicators, this study was carried out to compare health indicators in pilot villages of BDN in Charmahal and Bakhtiari province. A 4 years period (2000-2004) case-control study was carried out in 8 villages (4 cases and 4 controls) of Saman city. First, a questionnaire about access to healthly bath, collection system for garbage, collection system of waste water, access to sanitary toilet, income and social projects was filled for 1582 families in each group of case and control. Then BDN project was carried out in the case villages for a period of four years. Then the above questionnaire was filled again for all the villages. The results were statically analyzed using chi-square test. All the health indicators were improved in the case group (p<0.001). BDN improves the health indicators, family income and participation in the social projects.