ISMJ

Background: Life expectancy at birth is the number of years a neonate can survive, in a stable condition of mortality. Life expectancy is one of the key indicators of health that reflects the health, culture and socio-economic condition of society. The present study was to assess changes in life expectancy at birth in districts of Bushehr province in 2006 and 2011. Material and Methods: This cross- sectional study was based on mortality statistics data for the years 2006 and 2011 gathered by statistics unit of Health deputy of Bushehr University of Medical Sciences. The present study examined changes in life expectancy at birth in Bushehr province at the district level in a period from 2006 to 2011.On the basis of geographical proximity, nine counties of Bushehr province was divided into five regions. The life expectancy at birth by sex and urban/rural distribution was calculated by the direct method. The Recommended method of WHO was used to calculate life table. Results: Life expectancy at birth was 73.2 years (71.10 for men and 75.11 for women) in 2006. The highest calculated life expectancy, 74.63 years, was belonged to Dashtestan region and the lowest was 72 years in Bushehr region. In 2011, life expectancy at birth of Bushehr province was 75.75 years (74.98 for men and 76.53 for women). Dashti- Tangestan region had the highest one, 77.05 years, and Bushehr region had the lowest life expectancy, 74.30 years. Conclusion: It seems that increase in life expectancy at birth is more prominent in men than women in the 5 year period of 2006- 2011. Considering the difference in life expectancy at birth between five regions, it seems that calculated life expectancy would be a good indicator to reflect the unequal distribution of health and socioeconomic facilities in different regions of Bushehr province.