Investigation of the Healthy Village Indicators through Sustainable Rural Development Approach (Case Study: Kermanshah Province, Iran)

The health issue has become prominent due to population growth in the 20th century. Good health necessitates a healthy environment and appropriate social, economic, cultural, and environmental foundations. On one hand, understanding the nature and dimensions of health, as well as its influencing factors, and on the other hand, fostering its development within rural regions is crucial in promoting health in rural areas and fostering stability within these regions.

Therefore, this study was conducted as an applied research approach with a descriptive-analytical type. It investigates the indicators of a healthy village across various dimensions (medical-health, social, economic, environmental, etc.) and explores their relationship with sustainable rural development. The statistical population comprises 310 households residing in three healthy villages of Kermanshah province (HoriAbad et al.), totaling 969 individuals. A systematic random sampling method was employed for data collection.

The findings demonstrated that the indicators of Healthy Village are favorable, with a promising position in the environmental sector, averaging 4.90. Moreover, a significant correlation was found between different economic and ecological dimensions and indicators of a healthy village and sustainable rural development, with a confidence level of 95%. Furthermore, the villages investigated in this study were categorized into three groups. Nosmeh village exhibited the most favorable situation concerning the indicators of a healthy village, followed by HoriAbad and Pataq.

Additionally, Nosmeh village, which displayed the most satisfactory health status, also ranked highest in sustainable rural development. HoriAbad and Pataq villages ranked next regarding sustainable rural development and health.