Assessing the Gap Trend of Health Development Index between the Cities of Semnan Province and Iran During the Period of 1393-1396

The importance of improving the level of health and treatment as one of the criteria for sustainable development led us to measure the health index in the cities of Semnan province during the period of 1393-1396 and compare it with other regions of Iran as a whole. Firstly, the situation of Semnan province cities is examined in the mentioned period; Secondly, the gap between and among them is assessed; Finally, the gap between the cities of the province and other regions of Iran is evaluated.

The present study is a descriptive-analytical study. In this study, the Shannon Entropy Method is used to obtain the weights associated with 17 selected criteria, and using the numerical Taxonomic method to compute health index.

The general situation of urban areas of Semnan province is favorable in terms of having health and medical indicators compared to Iran, but over time it has been declining. Meanwhile, the situation in the cities of Semnan and Shahroud has improved, but the situation in the cities of Damghan and Garmsar is still declining. Also, in 1393 and 1394, the health gap between the cities of Semnan province and other regions of Iran in favor of the cities of Semnan province was very large, but during the next two years, this gap has decreased.

Shahroud city has always been the most beneficial city of Semnan province in terms of health and medical indicators. The average of the health index over a four-year period indicates that Semnan, Damghan, Garmsar and the whole country were ranked next, respectively. In addition, the trend of index among the studied areas indicates the convergence of the regions in terms of health index.