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April 08, 2007
A Success Story, Population Policy in Iran
As health professionals interested in International health a lot can be learned from the Iran population policy story. The process of implementing the policy shows the importance of census data in developing countries, and also the value of a powerful technical body in the development and health organizations as a capacity for developing the policy.
Starting the policy in the right time and attention to the window of opportunity is another lesson. This policy was legitimate and politically sustainable because of the Fatwa by the leader of the Islamic Revolution. The policy was operationally and administratively feasible, because of the extensive health network around the country with more than 16000 health houses in rural and urban area. Also the policy was substantively valuable, because it answered real needs of the society, and the willingness for development and country reconstruction after the war was something desirable for the nation.
Taking a gender approach and appreciating the role of both women and men was another message of this success story. The policy tried to change the values, beliefs of the people toward family size and fertility, and the family planning activities. Now the small family size is a norm in Iran. Thus, it would be so difficult for any policy makers to change this norm.
Posted by Syamak Moattari at April 8, 2007 09:41 AM
