| Along with health development in general terms, women’s involvement in
health programs can be effective in raising their self-confidence and their
health promotion. This study was carried out to unveil the barriers to and
challenges of the health volunteers and to present the solutions to its
promotion using active women participants’ experiences and the authorities
of the program. The study was carried out using qualitative method
along with content analysis in city of Tabriz East-Azerbaijan province, Iran.
Data collection was conducted utilizing semistructured individual interviews
and focus group discussions with the participation of 29 health
volunteers and responsible authorities. The participants were selected
using purposive sampling with maximum variation. Data analysis implemented
conventional content analysis using MAXODA. Barriers to and
challenges of health volunteers were generally categorized into four main
themes including volunteers and trainers’ inadequate capabilities, inadequate
acceptance of the volunteers, restrictive social norms, and organizational
problems. It seems that interaction among health system, people,
and health volunteers should be improved. Holding training programs
about the activities of health volunteers at the society level leads into the
better utilization of society sources in health programs. |