Iranian Journal of

Background & Objectives: Community assessment process is the foundation for developing the basis for effective community health strategies. The aim of this study was providing a framework for comprehensive and participatory community assessment in Shahin-Shar, Isfahan, Iran.
Methods: This assessment performed in Shahin Shar city based on some experiences of Community Medicine and Epidemiology and Biostatistics departments of Tehran University of medical sciences since 1989 and North Carolina Community Assessment Guide Book (2002). The community assessment team included wide ranges of key stakeholders and local people. Our community assessment team has three levels of participants: An advisory group, a work group and a project facilitator. Observation, interview, focus group discussion and summary list of health resources used for data collection. The map of asset was also provided. We reported data to community and Hanlon method -based on magnitude of the problem, seriousness of the consequences and feasibility of correcting- was used for selecting health priorities.
Results: Drug abuse, smoking among adults and depression were the important health priorities. After creating community assessment document, Based on the risk factors that contribute to each problem, the health action plans were developed.
Conclusion: The results of this study showed that community assessment could be the foundation for improving and promoting the health of community members. It could be the basis for effective community health strategies in Iran .

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Background & Objectives: Community assessment is a key tool for improving and promoting the health of the community. The role of community assessment is to identify the most important factors affecting the population health. To get a comprehensive picture of problems, priorities and suggested community health action plans in Iran, this review aims to summarize community assessments in various areas of Iran conducted between 1992 – 2013.

Methods: This study was a retrospective review in which community assessments were compared and the results of several studies conducted in different regions of the country covering both rural and urban health centers were analyzed. Since 1999, department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics has conducted these community assessments in eight phases and follows 2002 North Carolina Community Health Assessment model. Assessment teams typically included MPH students and/ or PhD and masters (epidemiology) students from the School of Public Health. Data was collected through observation, interview, and focus group discussion. Assessment teams in each region prioritized the list of problems using Hanlon method and Nominal Group Technique.  

Results: The results identified substance abuse, economical, and water-related problems as the most important problems in different parts of the country which indicates the need for developing a comprehensive action plan andimplementing measures.

Conclusion: A review of the community assessments performed in this study shows the ability of community assessment to detect community health problems in all aspects. Therefore, this approach is recommended to evaluate and prioritize health problems and to formulate action plans.