Equality in safe delivery indexes and their relative factors in Iran

To determine equality in safe delivery indexes (appropriate place for delivery, kind of delivery and appropriate attendant for delivery) and their relative factors in Iran. We did this descriptive-analytic study with the use of data of DHS (demographic and health survey), which was done in Iran in 2000. Our sample was internationally representative and includes 17991 Iranian married, 10-49 years old women that had delivered during 2 years before DHS. We calculated equality status by concentration index and its 95% confidence interval and we investigated relative factors to safe delivery indexes, by logistic regression. Our factors were age, job, residency (urban or rural) and education of mother and household economic status. Concentration index (95% confidence interval) for appropriate place for delivery, kind of delivery and appropriate attendant for delivery, were 0.111 (0.107, 0.115), -0.100 (-0.105, -0.095), 0.095 (0.091, 0.099) respectively. These results showed which opportunity of delivery in appropriate place and by appropriate attendant, were more in high economic and educational levels and proportion of natural delivery were less at those levels. Also, mother's age and education and household economic status, had significant relation with safe delivery indexes and in the all cases, mother's education was the most important factor. Despite developing in delivery cares in Iran, during 2 recent decades, there is a significant difference between existing situation of safe delivery indexes in Iran and complete equality due to economic status; and socioeconomic factors have contribution in this inequality.