Background: Neonatal mortality rate (NMR) is one of the most important health indicators in the world. Objectives: The current study aimed at determining the factors influencing neonatal mortality in Kurdistan province, Northwest of Iran. Methods: The current population-based case-control study was conducted in 2013. Cases were neonates who passed away within their first 28 days of life, in Kurdistan. The controls were selected among neonates who were born in the closest time and place to the case group. Data were collected using a questionnaire through interviews by a trained questioner. Chi-square, Fisher exact test, and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. All analyses were conducted by SPSS version 19. Results: A significant difference was observed between the neonatal mortality and the place of residence, maternal education level, maternal passive smoking, age, neonate birth weight, type of delivery, and nutrition. Maternal passive smoking during the previous year, pregnancy interval of less than 3 years, placental abruption, age, birth weight, malformations, and asphyxia were the most important factors associated with neonatal mortality. Conclusions:To reduce the NMR, in addition to follow-up and application of national guidelines, other necessary factors including the regionalization of the maternal and neonatal cares, planning, and development of programs with the focus on the causes and risk factors of neonatal mortality in Kurdistan province should be considered.

Background Health literacy is essential to self-care, which is an important precedence to improve the quality of healthcare services and a key factor in health. It also plays a pivotal role in decision-making in various health fields. Therefore, policymakers consider health literacy to be a primary tool to promote community health and enhance the proper use of healthcare services. The present study aimed to assess the health literacy status of the Kurdish population in Kurdistan province, Iran based on the nine constructs of the Iranian health literacy questionnaire (IHLQ) individually and collectively and determine the significant effects of demographic variables on health literacy. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on the Iranian adult Kurdish population living in the urban and rural areas of Kurdistan province, willing to participate during April 2017–September 2018. Data were collected using the IHLQ. The sample size was determined to be 980 people, with 490 in the rural areas and 490 in the urban areas. The researchers visited potential participants at their doorstep, asking them to complete the questionnaire. The willing participants were assisted in completing the IHLQ in case they were illiterate; the questions and answers were read by the researchers to the participants, and the responses were recorded. Results About 50.4% (n = 494) of the Kurdish population had poor health literacy, while 34.0% (n = 333) had average health literacy, and 15.6% (n = 153) had good health literacy. Meanwhile, 60.2% of the participants obtained poor scores in the construct of health information access, and 74.1% (n = 726) obtained poor scores in the individual empowerment construct. In addition, the analysis of the adjusted model indicated that education level (lowest β = 7.42; P = 0.001) and in male participants (β = − 1.10; P = 0.001) were significantly associated with higher health literacy. Conclusion According to the results, the investigated Kurdish population mostly had average or low health literacy. Therefore, proper strategies should be adopted to enhance the health literacy of this population and increase their access to health information. Furthermore, effective training should be provided to these individuals (especially vulnerable social groups) to improve their individual capabilities to compensate for poor health literacy.

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