The development programs of the Islamic Republic of Iran in health communication: focus on efforts to achieve sustainable health

Document Type : Research Paper

Author

Department of Communication, University of Religions and Denominations, Qom, Iran

Abstract
The five-year development plans of the Islamic Republic of Iran have been striving to create a more balanced development in the country and lay the foundation for societal progress over the past four decades. One fundamental aspect of development in any society is addressing health and public health, which can be explored and advanced through health communication development. This article seeks to elucidate the role of health communication and the strategies employed in the development plans, aiming to answer the question: "What components are highlighted in the objectives of the country's five-year development plans regarding health communication, and what is the primary focus and ultimate goal?" To address this inquiry, the study utilizes a documentary method to gather and analyze qualitative content data, examining the program's directives. The findings reveal that the principle of "sustainable health" serves as the overarching and inclusive approach of the program. This concept is based on key principles such as "enhancing community health," "expanding social and universal insurance coverage," "ensuring food security and promoting healthy food production and environmental protection," "enhancing pharmaceutical and therapeutic oversight," and "implementing electronic health solutions." These principles can be actualized through the development trajectory with the support of health communication.

Keywords

Subjects

-   Berniak-Wo ´zny, J.; Rataj, M. (2023). Towards Green and Sustainable Healthcare: A Literature Review and Research Agenda for Green Leadership in the Healthcare Sector. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, 20, 908. https://doi.org/10.3390/ ijerph20020908
-   Fink, G., Karlan, D., Udry, C., Osei, R., Bonargent, A., & Torres, N. (2018). Communication for development to improve health behaviors in Ghana. 3ie Grantee Final Report. New Delhi: International Initiative for Impact Evaluation (3ie).
-   Glanz, K., Rimer, B. K., & Viswanath, K. (2008). Theory, research, and practice in health behavior and health education. In K. Glanz, B. K. Rimer, & K. Viswanath (Eds.), Health behavior and health education: Theory, research, and practice (pp. 23-40). San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass.
-   Guégan, J.-F., Suzán, G., Kati-Coulibaly, S., Bonpamgue, D. N., & Moatti, J.-P. (2018). Sustainable Development Goal #3, “Health and well-being”, and the need for more integrative thinking. Veterinaria México OA, 5(2). https://doi.org/10.21753/vmoa.5.2.443
-   Gupta, D., Narain, J. P., & Yadav, S. J. (2021). Strategic communication in health and development: Concepts, applications and programming. Journal of Health Management, 23(1), 95-108.
https://doi.org/10.1177/0972063421994943
-   Kaseje, M., & Okeyo, V. (2020). Health communication in selected African states from colonial times. In Communicating science: A global perspective (pp. 51-70). Canberra: ANU Press. https://doi.org/10.22459/CS.2020.03
-   Khodayari-Zarnaq, R., Kabiri, N., & Alizadeh, G. (2020). Health in first to sixth economic, social, and cultural development plans of Iran: A document analysis. Journal of Research & Health, 10(1), 1-10.
http://dx.doi.org/10.32598/JRH.10.1.1
-   Kreps, G. L. (2015). Health communication inquiry and health promotion: A state of the science review. Journal of Health Communication, 20(Suppl 1), 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1080/10810730.2015.1033118
-   Landis, J. R., & Koch, G. G. (1977). The measurement of observer agreement for categorical data. Biometrics, 33(1), 159-174. https://doi.org/10.2307/2529310
-   McLeroy, K. R., Bibeau, D., Steckler, A., & Glanz, K. (1988). An ecological perspective on health promotion programs. Health Education Quarterly, 15(4), 351-377.
-   Malikhao, P., & Servaes, J. (2005). Participatory communication: The new paradigm? In O. Hemer & T. Tufte (Eds.), Media and glocal change: Rethinking communication for development (pp. 91-103). Sweden/Argentina: NORDICOM/CLASCO.
-   Nyandekwe, M., Kakoma, J. B., & Nzayirambaho, M. (2018). The health-related Millennium Development Goals (MDGs): Rwanda performance and contributing factors. Pan African Medical Journal, 31(56).
https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2018.31.56.11018
-   Pender, N. J.; Murdaugh, C. L.; Parsons, M. A. (2011). Health promotion in nursing practice (6th ed.). Pearson.
-   Prilutski, M. A. (2010). A brief look at effective health communication: Strategies in Ghana. The Elon Journal of Undergraduate Research in Communications, 1(2), 51-58.
-   Pourrashidi Alibigloo H, Eshaghi Z. The Integrated Model of Health Behavior Promotion (IMHBP): A Synergistic Approach to Promote Health-Oriented Behaviors. Open Public Health Journal, 2025; 18: e18749445375249. http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/0118749445375249250206112941
-   Rogers, E. M; Shoemaker, F. F. (1971). Communication of innovations: A cross-cultural approach. Free Press.
-   Rogers, E. M. (2003). Diffusion of innovations (5th ed.). Free Press
-   Strauss, A.; Corbin, J. (1998). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Sage Publications.
-   Singapore Ministry of Health (2019). National electronic health record system report. Singapore: Ministry of Health.
-   Schreier, M. (2012). Qualitative content analysis in practice. London: Sage.
-   Seers, D. (1969). The meaning of Development. Institute of Development. IDS Communication Series No. 44.
-   Shava, G. N., Hleza, S., Tlou, F., Shonhiwa, S., & Mathonsi, E. (2021). Qualitative content analysis, utility, usability and processes in educational research. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science, 5(7), 553-558.
-   Society for Health Communication. (2016a). About health communication, definition of health communication.
https://www.societyforhealthcommunication.org/health-communication
-   Suruchi, Sood; Amy Henderson (2023). Health Communication Fundamentals Planning, Implementation, and Evaluation in Public Health, Springer. DOI: 10.1891/9780826173027
-   UNAIDS. (1999). Sexual behavioral change for HIV: Where have theories taken us? Geneva, Switzerland: UNAIDS.
-   UNDP (2010). Human Development Report 2010: The Real Wealth of Nations – Pathways to Human Development. New York. Retrieved from: http://hdr.undp.org/en/content/human-development-report-2010.
-   UNICEF. (2017). Communication for development.
https://www.unicef.org/cbsc/
-   World Health Organization. (2021). Turkey health transformation program evaluation. Geneva: WHO Press.
-   Abdi, S., Khaniki, H., Nasrollahi, A., & Shahmansouri, B. (2021). Television and health communication: A meta-analysis of domestic and international health communication research. Journal of Society, Culture and Media Quarterly, 10(38), 11-29.
-   Akhavan Behbahani, A. (2013). An analytical review of Iran’s health policies in development plans. Scientific Journal of the Medical Council of the Islamic Republic of Iran, 31(2), 105-112. [In Persian].
-   Bijani, M. J., & Bahar, M. (2023). Comparison of Iran’s development plans in media policy of risk communication (Case study: health communication field). Journal of National Social Capital Research, 1(1), 167-182. [In Persian]
-   Javaheri, F., Safari Shali, R., & Mahdavi Kandeh, D. (2020). Analysis of comprehensiveness of health policymaking in Iran’s development plan laws. Iranian Social Issues, 11(1), 63-87. https://doi.org/10.29252/jspi.11.1.63 [In Persian]
-   Jalali Khanabadi, T., Alvani, S. M., Vaezi, R., & Ghorbanizadeh, V. (2020). Designing a network governance model in the country’s health system. Iranian Journal of Management Sciences Quarterly, 14(14), 1-30. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (1989). The First Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (1994). The Second Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (1997). The Third Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (2004). The Fourth Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (2010). The Fifth Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (2019). The Sixth Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Islamic Republic of Iran. (2020). The Seventh Five-Year Economic, Social and Cultural Development Plan of the Islamic Republic of Iran. Tehran: Islamic Consultative Assembly. [In Persian]
-   Majlis Research Center. (2023). Review of the Seventh Development Plan Bill: Provisions related to the pharmaceutical sector. Tehran: Social Studies Office, Majlis Research Center. [In Persian]
-   Ministry of Health and Medical Education. (2023). Health indicators report 2022. Tehran: Ministry of Health. [In Persian]
-   Sajadi, H., Abdollahatbar, H., Sam-Aram, A., & Taj Mazinani, A. (2018). Transformations of the health system within the framework of Iran’s development and construction plans. Social Welfare Quarterly, 18(70), 31-76. https://doi.org/10.29252/refahj.18.70.31 [In Persian]
-   Statistical Center of Iran. (2022). Statistical report on COVID-19 pandemic and vaccination acceptance rate. Tehran: Statistical Center of Iran. [In Persian]