Tracking the Maternal Mortality in Economic Cooperation Countries; Achievement and Gaps toward Millennium Development Goals

Objective: Evaluating the status of the ECO member countries in relation to goal 5 of 3rd millennium which includes 75% reduction of maternal mortality rate till 2015 in comparison to 1990. Material and Methods: In 2009, we have critically reviewed the countries’ MDG reports and extracted the data on each MDGs’ indicator by year and cause of mortality, (if possible) resident area (urban/rural) to explore the trend. In the next phase, the main stakeholders, from both governmental and international organizations in the country have been visited and interviewed (individually and in group) by the research team as part of the data validation process. Results: The MMR is very heterogeneous among the ECO countries. Afghanistan with the MMR of 1800 (per 100,000 live births) in 2005 is the worst country in the region/world while Turkey has reached the level of 19.4 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births in 2008. Multiple regression analysis shows that only the index of delivery by skilled health personnel is effective in reduction of maternal mortality. Conclusion: With considering half a decade to the end of predetermined time for achieving the millennium development goals, i.e. 2015, it’s optimistically expected that only a few of the ECO countries will reach the target for maternal health

HIV/AIDS Situation in Economic Cooperation Countries; Achievement and Gaps toward Millennium Development Goals

Objective: Evaluating the status of the ECO member countries in relation to HIV/AIDS (goal 6-a) which includes the main targets for global HIV/AIDS control. Materials and methods: In 2009, we have critically reviewed the countries' MDG reports and extracted the data on each MDG's indicator by year to explore the trend. In the next phase, the main stakeholders, from both governmental and international organizations in the country have been visited and interviewed (individually and in group) by the research team as part of the data validation process. Results: The most important issue in ECO countries is lack of accurate data about HIV/AIDS. From all countries four of them are facing concentrated epidemics in IDUs. ECO countries are categorized into three groups; countries in which HIV prevalence had remained less than 0.1 percent during 2001 to 2008 (Only country is within this group) , countries in which prevalence had reached 0.1 percent during 2001 to 2008 (5 countries are in this group) and countries in which prevalence had reached 0.2 percent or more during 2001 to 2008. Three countries  are in latter group. There is no valid data about people's awareness, condom usage during last sexual intercourse, and antiretroviral treatment. Existing data indicates inappropriateness of these indicators in all countries of the region. Conclusion: An efficient surveillance system in needed to illustrate an exact picture of HIV/AIDS in all countries. This study shows that though the epidemics has started lately in member countries compared with other parts of the world, no proper intervention has been adopted for controlling the epidemics yet. Moreover, in those countries which AIDS epidemics are concentrated among drug users, harm reduction activities are necessary to control the problem. Increasing the coverage of antiretroviral treatment and awareness of general and high risk population could help countries to achieve HIV/AIDS indicators

Evaluation of Tuberculosis Situation in Economic Cooperation Countries in 2009; Achievement and Gaps toward Millennium Development Goals

Background : Evaluating the tuberculosis (TB) status of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countries relation to goal 6-c of the third millennium, which includes that TB incidence, prevalence, and death rates should be halved by 2015, compared with their level in 1990. Methods : In 2009, we have critically reviewed the countries′ Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reports and extracted the data from the surveillance system and published and unpublished data. The main stakeholders, from both governmental and international organizations in the country have been visited and interviewed by the research team as part of the data validation process. Results : The TB incidence is very heterogeneous among ECO countries, which differ from 21.7 in Iran to 230.7 per 100,000 in Tajikistan. TB incidence (per 100,000) is more than 100 in six countries and is from 50 to 100 in two countries and is less than 30 in two countries. Only in two countries the crude death rate (CDR) is higher than 70%. In seven countries the death rate is higher than 10 per 100,000. Two countries are among the 20 top world countries with the highest tuberculosis burden. Conclusion : There are some signs and signals indicating the bad condition of an ECO member including: incidence of more than 50 per 100000, CDR of less than 70%, death rate more than 10 per 100,000, and rating two member countries among 20 top countries with the highest burden in the world. Iran and Turkey could achieve MDGs by 2015, but if other countries do not prepare urgent intervention programs, they will not be able to fulfill the goals