Health in Iran
   HOME

TheInfoList



OR:

As for many
developing countries A developing country is a sovereign state with a lesser developed industrial base and a lower Human Development Index (HDI) relative to other countries. However, this definition is not universally agreed upon. There is also no clear agreem ...
, health issues in
Iran Iran, officially the Islamic Republic of Iran, and also called Persia, is a country located in Western Asia. It is bordered by Iraq and Turkey to the west, by Azerbaijan and Armenia to the northwest, by the Caspian Sea and Turkmeni ...
stem from a variety of reasons: namely,
water Water (chemical formula ) is an Inorganic compound, inorganic, transparent, tasteless, odorless, and Color of water, nearly colorless chemical substance, which is the main constituent of Earth's hydrosphere and the fluids of all known living ...
and
sanitation Sanitation refers to public health conditions related to clean drinking water and treatment and disposal of human excreta and sewage. Preventing human contact with feces is part of sanitation, as is hand washing with soap. Sanitation syste ...
,
diet Diet may refer to: Food * Diet (nutrition), the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group * Dieting, the deliberate selection of food to control body weight or nutrient intake ** Diet food, foods that aid in creating a diet for weight loss ...
and fitness, various
addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use o ...
s, mental fitness, communicable diseases,
hygiene Hygiene is a series of practices performed to preserve health. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), "Hygiene refers to conditions and practices that help to maintain health and prevent the spread of diseases." Personal hygiene refer ...
and the
environment Environment most often refers to: __NOTOC__ * Natural environment, all living and non-living things occurring naturally * Biophysical environment, the physical and biological factors along with their chemical interactions that affect an organism or ...
. The Human Rights Measurement Initiative finds that Iran is fulfilling 88.6% of what it should be fulfilling for the right to health based on its level of income. When looking at the right to health with respect to children, Iran achieves 96.5% of what is expected based on its current income. In regards to the right to health amongst the adult population, the country achieves 98.8% of what is expected based on the nation's level of income. Iran falls into the "very bad" category when evaluating the right to reproductive health because the nation is fulfilling only 70.6% of what the nation is expected to achieve based on the resources (income) it has available.


Water and sanitation

Iran has one of the highest percentages of population in the
Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...
with access to safe
drinking water Drinking water is water that is used in drink or food preparation; potable water is water that is safe to be used as drinking water. The amount of drinking water required to maintain good health varies, and depends on physical activity level, a ...
, with an estimated 92% of its people enjoying such access (nearly 100% in urban areas and about 80% in rural areas as of 2007). There is a considerable shortfall in
sewage treatment Sewage treatment (or domestic wastewater treatment, municipal wastewater treatment) is a type of wastewater treatment which aims to remove contaminants from sewage to produce an effluent that is suitable for discharge to the surrounding e ...
; for example, in Tehran the majority of the population has no wastewater treatment, with raw sewage being injected directly into the
groundwater Groundwater is the water present beneath Earth's surface in rock and soil pore spaces and in the fractures of rock formations. About 30 percent of all readily available freshwater in the world is groundwater. A unit of rock or an unconsolidated ...
. As the
water crisis Water scarcity (closely related to water stress or water crisis) is the lack of fresh water resources to meet the standard water demand. There are two types of water scarcity: physical or economic water scarcity. Physical water scarcity is wher ...
deepens with an expanding population, this
pollution Pollution is the introduction of contaminants into the natural environment that cause adverse change. Pollution can take the form of any substance (solid, liquid, or gas) or energy (such as radioactivity, heat, sound, or light). Pollutants, the ...
of groundwater causes increasing health risks.


Nutrition and fitness


Nutrition

Forty-five million Iranians face inadequate
nutrition Nutrition is the biochemical and physiological process by which an organism uses food to support its life. It provides organisms with nutrients, which can be metabolized to create energy and chemical structures. Failure to obtain sufficient ...
according to Iranian officials. Kohgiloyeh and Boyerahmad, Sistan-Baluchistan, Hormozgan, Kerman and Khuzestan as
provinces A province is almost always an administrative division within a country or state. The term derives from the ancient Roman '' provincia'', which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...
that face
malnutrition Malnutrition occurs when an organism gets too few or too many nutrients, resulting in health problems. Specifically, it is "a deficiency, excess, or imbalance of energy, protein and other nutrients" which adversely affects the body's tissues ...
or food insecurity.


Diet Diet may refer to: Food * Diet (nutrition), the sum of the food consumed by an organism or group * Dieting, the deliberate selection of food to control body weight or nutrient intake ** Diet food, foods that aid in creating a diet for weight loss ...
,
food ingredient An ingredient is a substance that forms part of a mixture (in a general sense). For example, in cooking, recipes specify which ingredients are used to prepare a specific dish. Many commercial products contain secret ingredients that are purpor ...
s &
junk food "Junk food" is a term used to describe food that is high in calories from sugar and/or fat, and possibly also sodium, but with little dietary fiber, protein, vitamins, minerals, or other important forms of nutritional value. It is also known as ...

The soft drinks industry is valued at about $2 billion a year. As of 2008, Iran produces about 3 billion litres of different types of soft drinks to address consumption of 46 litres per capita, and exports more than 12% of its production. Increased awareness with regards to the damages of carbonated drinks and sugar, and high levels of
diabetes Diabetes, also known as diabetes mellitus, is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by a high blood sugar level ( hyperglycemia) over a prolonged period of time. Symptoms often include frequent urination, increased thirst and increased ...
has created a move towards healthier products.


Food safety &

food packaging Food packaging is a packaging system specifically designed for food and represents one of the most important aspects among the processes involved in the food industry, as it provides protection from chemical, biological and physical alteratio ...

''The Codex Commission of Food Stuff'', established in 2002 is in charge of setting and developing standards and quality and health regulations, related to the production of and trade in raw agricultural products and food stuffs, in accordance with the different global standards. Tainted meat has been imported according to Iranian authorities. Uncontrolled use of pesticides is also a problem. Despite the potential health hazards caused by
GM food Genetically modified foods (GM foods), also known as genetically engineered foods (GE foods), or bioengineered foods are foods produced from organisms that have had changes introduced into their DNA using the methods of genetic engineering. Gene ...
and government restrictions on the production of biotech products, Iran imports $5 billion of genetically modified crops a year because of laxed laws (2015).


Obesity

In 1988, Iran was one of the top seven countries with the highest rate of childhood obesity. In 2005, 33.7% of adults were at risk of developing metabolic syndrome. Eight million Iranians already live with this syndrome. In 1995, 24.7% of boys and 26.8% of girls age 6 were overweight. One of the major reasons for increased obesity is urbanization. In 2005, an average Iranian citizen consumed 42 liters of soda per year, as well as 40% more carbohydrates, 30% more fat, and 40% more food than the body needs. The greater availability of fast food and junk food in combination with a low activity lifestyle has contributed to the obesity trend. Other factors include the impact of technology and a high consumption of rice and bread. Many families with a moderate income are limited in the foods they are able to afford, resulting in a higher incidence of obese children. However, childhood obesity is not a concern because it is believed that these children will outgrow their fatness as they age. The health impact of childhood obesity is unknown. The tendency of obesity is increasing among children. The outbreak of obesity is increasing amid both girls and boys in civic area but sometimes it shows decrease in boys and girls in rustic area. Overweight should be observed as a preference and to be considered in relation with expansion of the different areas and districts.


Physical fitness

As an additional measure of
public health Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals". Analyzing the det ...
and inefficient food distribution, about thirteen percent of the young people are classified as
obese Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's we ...
, according to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
FAO The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)french: link=no, Organisation des Nations unies pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture; it, Organizzazione delle Nazioni Unite per l'Alimentazione e l'Agricoltura is an intern ...
sources. According to the government of Iran, about 60 percent of Iranians are overweight and 35 percent of women and 15 percent of men suffer from
obesity Obesity is a medical condition, sometimes considered a disease, in which excess body fat has accumulated to such an extent that it may negatively affect health. People are classified as obese when their body mass index (BMI)—a person's ...
in Iran. Despite the young age of many Iranians, only 20 percent of Iranians are
physically active Exercise is a Human body, body activity that enhances or maintains physical fitness and overall health and wellness. It is performed for various reasons, to aid growth and improve strength, develop muscles and the cardiovascular system, hone ...
while the world average is 60 percent. 30% of Iranian youths never play any
sports Sport pertains to any form of competitive physical activity or game that aims to use, maintain, or improve physical ability and skills while providing enjoyment to participants and, in some cases, entertainment to spectators. Sports can, ...
.


Communicable diseases & addictions

Immunization Immunization, or immunisation, is the process by which an individual's immune system becomes fortified against an infectious agent (known as the immunogen). When this system is exposed to molecules that are foreign to the body, called ''non-se ...
of children is accessible to most of the urban and rural population.


Cholera

Cholera has been a persistent problem in Iran. In the 2005 epidemic which involved loss of lives, state television warned people not to eat vegetables or buy ice blocks on the streets. Salads were also banned in some restaurants. The 1998 epidemic involved considerably more cases and loss of life.


HIV/AIDS

Increased drug use has driven up the incidence of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). In 2005 two-thirds of the official total of 9,800 HIV cases were attributed to drug use. Iran has established a national HIV treatment system, including 150 testing sites and a free needle exchange program. According to the
United Nations The United Nations (UN) is an intergovernmental organization whose stated purposes are to maintain international peace and security, develop friendly relations among nations, achieve international cooperation, and be a centre for harmoniz ...
, AIDS has been increasing in Iran at a rapid rate. The major factor fuelling the epidemic until now has been injecting drug use, while there is an increase in sexual transmission of the disease. An estimated 14% of people who inject drugs countrywide were living with HIV in 2007. In 2009, men account for 93 percent of the HIV patients, and women comprise 7 percent of the infected population. The rate of the epidemic in Iran is however still very low compared to international standards. Iran has a low prevalence of HIV infections with a rate of about 0.16 percent of the adult population (18,000 cases, officially) compared with 0.8 percent in North America (2008). But according to the
WHO Who or WHO may refer to: * Who (pronoun), an interrogative or relative pronoun * Who?, one of the Five Ws in journalism * World Health Organization Arts and entertainment Fictional characters * Who, a creature in the Dr. Seuss book '' Horton He ...
, as of the end of 2009, there are more than 100,000 AIDS sufferers in Iran (approximately 0.135% of the Iranian population).


Illegal drugs

Drug addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use oft ...
constitutes a major health problem. Iran is situated along one of the main trafficking routes for cannabis, heroin, opium and
morphine Morphine is a strong opiate that is found naturally in opium, a dark brown resin in poppies (''Papaver somniferum''). It is mainly used as a pain medication, and is also commonly used recreationally, or to make other illicit opioids. T ...
produced in
Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...
, and designer drugs have also found their way into the local market in recent years. Iran ranks first worldwide in the prevalence of opiate addiction with 2.8% of its population addicted. Initiation age for most Iranian addicts is their 20s. Hundreds of drug production laboratories have been set up in
Pakistan Pakistan ( ur, ), officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ( ur, , label=none), is a country in South Asia. It is the world's fifth-most populous country, with a population of almost 243 million people, and has the world's second-lar ...
and Afghanistan. Iran's police said in April 2009 that 7,700 tonnes of opium was produced in Afghanistan in 2008, of which 3000 tonnes entered Iran, adding that the force had managed to seize 1000 tonnes of the smuggled opium. Iran spent over 600 million dollars in just the last two years to dig canals, build barriers and install barbed wire to seal off the country’s crime-infested borders. Iran discovers 3 tons of drugs daily. In 2005, estimates of the number of drug addicts ranged from 2 to 4 million (1.2 million according to the Government). Reasons for addiction include lack of economic prospects among the youth and lack of freedom. In a 2014-survey, 30.6% of the youth considered financial issues as their biggest concern, while 28.9% chose unemployment, 10.8% university acceptance, and 7.5% marriage issues as their biggest worries.


Smoking

Iran has implemented a strict smoking ban in all public places. By 2007, smoking decreased to 11%. However, the rate of smokers in the general population increased again significantly in recent years. As of 2018, this rate stands at 14%. According to the new law, smoking is prohibited in all public organizations, hotels, restaurants, tea houses and coffee shops. Also forbidden is the offering and smoking of '' ghalyun'', the traditional Persian waterpipe, which is a must in Iranian
tea house A teahouse (mainly Asia) or tearoom (also tea room) is an establishment which primarily serves tea and other light refreshments. A tea room may be a room set aside in a hotel especially for serving afternoon tea, or may be an establishment wh ...
s. A smoking ban for all car drivers nationwide was implemented since March 2006, and although offenders could face fines, the ban was widely ignored by the drivers. Also selling tobacco products to anyone under 18 would result in confiscation of the vendor's tobacco products and a cash fine. Repeated violations would lead to high cash fines. About 20% of adult male and 4.5% of adult female population in the country smoke tobacco (12 million smokers according to some estimates). 60,000 Iranians die directly or indirectly due to smoking every year (2008). Smoking is responsible for 25% of death in the country. Approx. 54bn-60bn cigarettes are believed to be consumed annually in Iran. Around 2.7bn cigarettes are smuggled into Iran annually, according to officials from the state-owned
Iranian Tobacco Company The Iranian Tobacco Company (ITC) was established in Iran in 1928 to achieve improvement and progress in the global tobacco industry. This company is one of the most important and largest tobacco production companies in Iran. Currently, the CEO ...
(ITC), on top of another 26.7bn which are imported legally (2008). Imports of cigarettes, tobacco, cigars, cigarette paper, cigarette tips are subject to government monopoly. Iranians spend more than $1.8 billion a year on tobacco. According to a 2010-law, smokers henceforth will not be appointed to senior government jobs.


Air pollution

Some sources say Iran's air pollution is some of the worst in the world. The prevalence of respiratory diseases and cancers in Iran is increasing at a significant rate, also because of air pollution in Tehran. It is estimated that 5 million Iranian children suffer from asthma. The
World Bank The World Bank is an international financial institution that provides loans and grants to the governments of low- and middle-income countries for the purpose of pursuing capital projects. The World Bank is the collective name for the Inte ...
estimates losses inflicted on Iran’s economy as a result of deaths caused by air pollution at $640 million, which is equal to 5.1 trillion rials or 0.57 percent of
GDP Gross domestic product (GDP) is a monetary measure of the market value of all the final goods and services produced and sold (not resold) in a specific time period by countries. Due to its complex and subjective nature this measure is ofte ...
. Substandard gasoline and imported car brakes are also a reported health hazard/air pollutant according to the authorities.


Alcohol consumption

Prohibited in Iran because of the
Islamic law Sharia (; ar, شريعة, sharīʿa ) is a body of religious law that forms a part of the Islamic tradition. It is derived from the religious precepts of Islam and is based on the sacred scriptures of Islam, particularly the Quran and the ...
, except for non-Muslims who can legally consume alcoholic beverages in private. Alcohol smuggling into Iran was estimated at nearly $1 billion in 2010. More than 200,000 people in Iran are estimated to be involved in bootlegging. Many rely on what's made in people's basements or gardens in unsanitary conditions.


Covid19

Iran has been among the worst affected countries by the
COVID-19 Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a contagious disease caused by a virus, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The first known case was identified in Wuhan, China, in December 2019. The disease quickly ...
2019- pandemic claiming thousands of lives in the country (2020).


Family planning

The Islamic Republic of Iran has a comprehensive and effective program of family planning. While Iran's population grew at a rate of more than 3% per year between 1956 and 1986, the growth rate began to decline in the late 1980s and early 1990s after the government initiated a major population control program. By 2007 the growth rate had declined to 0.7 percent per year, with a birth rate of 17 per 1,000 persons and a death rate of 6 per 1,000. Reports by the UN show birth control policies in Iran to be effective with the country topping the list of greatest fertility decreases. UN's Population Division of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs says that between 1975 and 1980, the total fertility number was 6.5. The projected level for Iran's 2005 to 2010 birth rate is fewer than two. As at 2012, more than half of Iran's population is under 35 years old. Authorities are now slashing its birth-control programs in an attempt to avoid an aging demographic similar to many Western countries that are struggling to keep up with state medical and social security costs. One fifth of all couples are infertile.


Leading causes of mortality

In the early 2000s the main natural causes of death have been
cardiovascular The blood circulatory system is a system of organs that includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood which is circulated throughout the entire body of a human or other vertebrate. It includes the cardiovascular system, or vascular system, tha ...
disease and
cancer Cancer is a group of diseases involving abnormal cell growth with the potential to invade or spread to other parts of the body. These contrast with benign tumors, which do not spread. Possible signs and symptoms include a lump, abnormal b ...
. Cancer Research Center of Iran says 41,000 Iranians die of cancer each year. According to Iran's Health Ministry, the most fatal cancer for men across the country is stomach cancer and for women is
breast cancer Breast cancer is cancer that develops from breast tissue. Signs of breast cancer may include a lump in the breast, a change in breast shape, dimpling of the skin, milk rejection, fluid coming from the nipple, a newly inverted nipple, or a r ...
with 90,000 new cancer cases reported each year (2015). According to
Ministry of Health and Medical Education The Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MOHME) has executive responsibility for health and medical education within the Iranian government. The MOHME comprises five departments headed by deputy ministers: # Research and Technology #Educati ...
, in 2003, 41% of total deaths were due to diseases of the circulatory system.
Myocardial infarction A myocardial infarction (MI), commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when blood flow decreases or stops to the coronary artery of the heart, causing damage to the heart muscle. The most common symptom is chest pain or discomfort which may ...
as the cause of 25% of deaths was the leading cause of mortality among the population.
Addiction Addiction is a neuropsychological disorder characterized by a persistent and intense urge to engage in certain behaviors, one of which is the usage of a drug, despite substantial harm and other negative consequences. Repetitive drug use o ...
is the fourth major cause of death in Iran following road accidents, heart disease and depression. From 2001 to 2010, over 438,000 Iranians have died from "unnatural deaths" such as electric shocks, gas poisoning, and drug intoxication. 4,055 people committed suicide in 2013 and the number of suicides is on the rise. In 2013, the ''Association of Social Workers of Iran'' indicated that 61,000 people committed suicide in Iran from 2001 to 2011. According to Iran’s parliamentary committee on health and treatment in 2015, 12 million Iranians suffer from mental illnesses (mostly stemming from economic reasons). According to the ministry of health, mental issues among
women A woman is an adult female human. Prior to adulthood, a female human is referred to as a girl (a female child or adolescent). The plural ''women'' is sometimes used in certain phrases such as "women's rights" to denote female humans regardl ...
is a major problem and it is the second cause of death and disabilities among men.


Women's health in Iran

Similar to other countries, health of Iranian women plays a crucial role in well-being and economic growth of their society. Over the years, there has been significant progress in improving physical, mental and social health of women in this country. However, various obstacles have remained to be overcome to achieve the optimal well-being of Iranian women. Therefore, it is important to understand their challenges and the underlying explanations behind them.


Physical Health


Life Expectancy

According to WHO data published in 2018,
life expectancy Life expectancy is a statistical measure of the average time an organism is expected to live, based on the year of its birth, current age, and other demographic factors like sex. The most commonly used measure is life expectancy at birth ...
at birth in Iran is 76.9 years for women and 74.6 for men, which is above global average: 74 years for female and for 70 years for males. The leading causes of death in Iranian women is
non-communicable diseases A non-communicable disease (NCD) is a disease that is not transmissible directly from one person to another. NCDs include Parkinson's disease, autoimmune diseases, strokes, most heart diseases, most cancers, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, oste ...
, mainly
cardiovascular diseases Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a class of diseases that involve the heart or blood vessels. CVD includes coronary artery diseases (CAD) such as angina and myocardial infarction (commonly known as a heart attack). Other CVDs include stroke, ...
(179 per 100, 000 death). This can partly be due to their lack of physical activity. According to National Surveillance of Risk Factors of Non-Communicable Diseases in Iran (SuRFNCD -2007), 35% of the Iranian population of which 46% are women had a sedentary life style. In general, Iranian women have three times less physical activity than men.


Maternal Health

In 1975,
maternal mortality ratio The maternal mortality ratio is a key performance indicator (KPI) for efforts to improve the health and safety of mothers before, during, and after childbirth per country worldwide. Often referred to as MMR, it is the annual number of female death ...
(MMR; number of maternal deaths per 100 000 livebirths) in Iran was 274, however, by year 2015, it dropped to 25 by 2015, which is comparable with developed countries.
Millennium Development Goal The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) were eight international development goals for the year 2015 that had been established following the Millennium Summit of the United Nations in 2000, following the adoption of the United Nations Millenni ...
5 (MDG5) suggested 5.5% reduction per year in MMR. Iran is one of the countries, which was able to achieve the goal of MDG5 with reduction of 75% by the year 2015. The main cause of maternal mortality among Iranian women is obstetric hemorrhage (30.7%) followed by hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, childbirth, and the puerperium (17%). Maternal mortality occurs more frequent in rural and nomadic areas of Iran. It is estimated that 90% of these mothers had poor economic status when compared to the middle or high-class groups.


Sexual Health


= Sexually transmitted infection (STIs)

= Herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV2) and
chlamydia Chlamydia, or more specifically a chlamydia infection, is a sexually transmitted infection caused by the bacterium '' Chlamydia trachomatis''. Most people who are infected have no symptoms. When symptoms do appear they may occur only several we ...
are two of the STIs with high prevalence among Iranian women. Two different studies on female sex workers showed the prevalence of HSV2 to be 9.7% and 18%. In some areas of Iran, the prevalence of chlamydia infection in Iran is higher than global and Eastern Mediterranean Region prevalence. The global estimate for chlamydia among women is reported to be 3.53% and for the Eastern Mediterranean Region is estimated to be 2.15%.


=

HIV-1 The subtypes of HIV include two major types, HIV type 1 (HIV-1) and HIV type 2 (HIV-2). HIV-1 is related to viruses found in chimpanzees and gorillas living in western Africa, while HIV-2 viruses are related to viruses found in the sooty mangabey ...
prevalence among Iranian women

= By 2018, of the 60 000 adults living with HIV in Iran, 15 000 (25%) are woman. The proportion of women among those infected with HIV-1 has steadily increased from 6% in 2004 to 30% in 2013. Sexual transmission is the main route of HIV-1 infection among Iranian women. It has been suggested that the number of HIV-1 infected individuals are much higher; however, social stigma and discrimination might prevent many Iranians, in particular women, from admitting they are infected.


Social health and women empowerment

In 2018, Iran was ranked 142 out of 149 for Global Gender Gap Index (GGI score: 0.589). As the women in many parts of the world, the gender gap in Iran is evident in all sub-indices including economic participation and opportunity (rank: 143; score: 0.376), political empowerment (rank: 141; score: 0.046), educational attempt (rank: 103; score: 0.969) and health and survival (rank: 127; score 0.966).


Child marriage Child marriage is a marriage or similar union, formal or informal, between a child under a certain age – typically 18 years – and an adult or another child. * * * * The vast majority of child marriages are between a female child and a mal ...

It is estimated that 17% of Iranian girls under age of 18 are married. However, thousands of such marriages are not officially registered. Child marriage in Iran is mainly driven by gender inequality, religion, poverty and traditional costume. In line with target 5.3 of Sustainable Development Goals, Iran has made a commitment to eliminate child marriage by 2030.


See also

*Healthcare in Iran *Ministry of Health and Medical Education (Iran) *Economy of Iran


References


External links


Ministry of Health and Medical Education (Iran)World Health Organization - Iran
(Statistics)

- Iran *
WHO/Country Profile
- Iran
Statistical center of IranUnited Nations World Drug Report 2010 and Iran
{{World topic, Health in, noredlinks=yes Health in Iran,