Mehrangiz Rezaee - Department of Geography, Yazd University, Yazd, Iran
Nader Tavakoli - Trauma and Injury Research Centre, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Siamak Tahmasbi - Centre for Remote Sensing & GIS Research, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Background  Mortality rate in rural areas is a useful measure of the health of the population and the function of the health system, which varies over space and time. The objective of this research is to explore the spatial and temporal variations in the rural mortality rate in Iran at the county level in ۲۰۰۶, ۲۰۱۱, and ۲۰۱۶. Methods  data were gathered from the rural population and mortality statistics published by the Statistical Centre of Iran (SCI) and the National Organization for Civil Registration (NOCR). Global spatial patterns were assessed using the global Moran’s I and local clusters through the local Moran’s I. Results  Spatial distribution of rural mortality rate shows that during the years under study the number of counties with a lower rate has increased. The counties with rate of less form continuous areas in the southwest, central and east regions. The excess risk map reveals significant variations in both value and extent. Also, the values of Moran’s index increased from ۰.۱۸۴۸ in ۲۰۰۶ to ۰.۴۰۴۱ in ۲۰۱۶, which indicates the strengthening of the cluster spatial pattern of the overall rural mortality rate. Local patterns have undergone substantial changes over space and time. Conclusion  The findings indicate significant spatial and temporal variations in rural mortality rates in Iran. Policymakers can use this information to plan and enhance healthcare infrastructure in specific counties. The findings serve for evaluating the effectiveness of health policies, enabling policy-makers to make informed decisions, allocate resources efficiently and design targeted interventions for improved public health outcomes.

Mortality Rate, Spatial Autocorrelation, Spatial Clustering, Rural Areas, Iran