Assessing health worker's duties from the viewpoint of principals and pupils concerning healthcare of students in the rural areas of Iran.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate the duties of regional healthcare workers (Behvarzes) regarding healthcare of pupils in the rural areas of Iran. METHOD This descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 2007-2008 on 384 pupils and their school managers in the rural areas of Sharbabak in Kerman, Iran. The research population was evaluated with separate questionnaires for the managers and the pupils. The results were analysed using descriptive statistical methods. RESULTS The study showed that 250 (65%) of the total participants believed that the Behvarzes performed the minimum required duties for supervision of the pupil's personal health, and 257 (67%), 173 (45%), 269 (70%) and 269 (70%) thought they performed the minimum for promoting the environmental health status of the school, for pupils' nutrition, for accident prevention, and for disease control respectively. CONCLUSION Behvarzes have been very successful in promoting healthcare among villagers in Iran, but they should pay more attention to the nutritional status of the students.