Process evaluation of a national, community-based, food supplementary programme for improving the nutritional status of children in Iran.

Objective: To evaluate the process of implementation of a national nutritional programme for improving the nutritional status of children in Iran.

Design: A cross-sectional process evaluation was carried out using field observations, document reviews, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions.

Setting: Data were collected across urban and rural areas of Qazvin and Semnan provinces of Iran, March-September 2014.

Effectiveness of the national food supplementary program on children growth and nutritional status in Iran.

This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the national food distribution program on the growth and nutritional status of malnourished or growth-retarded children in 2 provinces of Iran. A quasi-experimental design was used for the effectiveness evaluation. Qualitative data were gathered to explain the results.

'Seeking affluent neighbourhoods?' a time-trend analysis of geographical distribution of hospitals in the Megacity of Tehran.

Objective: Access to hospitals in megacities in low and middle income countries might be hampered by travel barriers and distance. We assessed the 'inverse care law' hypothesis: whether hospitals tended to be built in the relatively better-off areas through the time.

Methods: A longitudinal time-series study (1966 to 2011) in Tehran to measure inequality in the distribution of hospital beds.

Key Informants' Perceptions on the Implementation of a National Program for Improving Nutritional Status of Children in Iran.

Introduction: Childhood malnutrition is a major public health issue. Multidisciplinary approach for Improvement of Nutritional Status of Children in Iran was implemented in order to reduce malnutrition among children.

Objective: This study aimed to evaluate the implementation aspect of the program and to explore key informants' perceptions and experience regarding the factors affected its implementation.

Impact of the National Food Supplementary Program for Children on Household Food Security and Maternal Weight Status in Iran.

Background: Food aid programs are strategies that aim to improve nutritional status and to tackle food insecurity. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of a National Food Supplementary Program for Children on households' food security.

Methods: The study sample included 359 mothers of children aged 6-72 months under the coverage of the program in two provinces of Iran.

Response-oriented measuring inequalities in Tehran: second round of UrbanHealth Equity Assessment and Response Tool (Urban HEART-2), concepts and framework.

Background: Current evidence consistently confirm inequalities in health status among socioeconomic none, gender,ethnicity, geographical area and other social determinants of health (SDH), which adversely influence health ofthe population. SDH refer to a wide range of factors not limited to social component, but also involve economic, cultural,educational, political or environmental problems. Measuring inequalities, improving daily living conditions, andtackling inequitable distribution of resources are highly recommended by international SDH commissioners in recentyears to 'close the gaps within a generation'.