Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-lj6df Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T12:16:32.612Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Safety Needs of People With Disabilities During Earthquakes

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 October 2017

Aidin Aryankhesal ,
Shahrzad Pakjouei  and
Mohammad Kamali
Aidin Aryankhesal
Affiliation:
Department of Health Services Management, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Shahrzad Pakjouei*
Affiliation:
Health Management and Economics Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Mohammad Kamali
Affiliation:
School of Rehabilitation Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Shahrzad Pakjouei, PhD, School of Health Management and Information Sciences, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Rashid yasemi St., Valiasr Ave., Tehran 1996713883, Iran (e-mail: [email protected]).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

The needs of people with disabilities are not taken into account during disasters, and there is no or little preparation for them. Hence, such people are very anxious about their personal safety during disasters. The aim of this study was to explain the safety needs of people with disabilities during earthquakes.

Methods

This qualitative study was conducted with purposive sampling. A total of 12 people with movement disability, aged between 18 and 60 years, and with an experience of facing earthquakes, participated in semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis was used.

Results

The safety needs of people with disabilities were categorized into three phases: those before an earthquake were considering building codes and resistant construction, building safe and resistant-to-climate-change shelters, and securing the room at the home and workplace; that during an earthquake was the existence of personal protection facilities; and those after an earthquake were adaptation of bathrooms in secure areas, prioritizing conex containers instead of tents, and sheltering in a safe and vermin-free area.

Conclusions

The sudden death of people with disabilities during disasters is preventable through proper planning and preparedness of emergency personnel. Hence, identifying the safety needs of these people and inclusion of such plans in disasters management systems can assure safety for people with disabilities during disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018;12:615–621)

Keywords

people with disabilitiessafetyneedsshelterearthquakes
Type
Original Research
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 12 , Issue 5 , October 2018 , pp. 615 - 621
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2017 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. World Health Organization. World report on disability. World Health Organization; 2011.Google Scholar
2. Stough, LM, Kang, D. The Sendai framework for disaster risk reduction and persons with disabilities. Int J Disaster Risk Sci. 2015;6:140-149.Google Scholar
3. Hemingway, L, Priestley, M. Natural hazards, human vulnerability and disabling societies: a disaster for disabled people? Rev Disabil Stud. 2014;2:57-68.Google Scholar
4. Dixon, DR, Bergstrom, R, Smith, MN, et al. A review of research on procedures for teaching safety skills to persons with developmental disabilities. Res Dev Disabil. 2010;31:985-994.Google Scholar
5. Jaeger, G, Röjvik, A, Berglund, B. Participation in society for people with a rare diagnosis. Disabil Health J. 2015;8:44-50.Google Scholar
6. Wolf-Fordham, SB, Twyman, JS, Hamad, CD. Educating first responders to provide emergency services to individuals with disabilities. Disaster Med Public Health Prep. 2014;8:533-540.Google Scholar
7. Boroschek, R, Retamales, R. Guidelines for vulnerability reduction in the design of new health facilities. Washington, DC: PAHO/World Bank; 2004.Google Scholar
8. Twigg, J, Kett, M, Bottomley, H, et al. Disability and public shelter in emergencies. Environ Hazards. 2011;10:248-261.Google Scholar
9. Uscher-Pines, L, Hausman, AJ, Powell, S, et al. Disaster preparedness of households with special needs in southeastern Pennsylvania. Am J Prev Med. 2009;37:227-230.Google Scholar
10. Rathore, FA, Farooq, F, Muzammil, S, et al. Spinal cord injury management and rehabilitation: highlights and shortcomings from the 2005 earthquake in Pakistan. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2008;89:579-585.Google Scholar
11. Putkovich, K. Emergency warning for people with disabilities. J Emerg Manag. 2013;11:189-200.Google Scholar
12. Wolbring, G. Disability, displacement and public health: a vision for Haiti. Can J Public Health. 2011;102:157-159.Google Scholar
13. United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction. Disaster risk reduction in sustainable development outcome documents, UNISDR. http://www.unisdr.org/we/inform/publications/42613. Accessed September 12, 2017.Google Scholar
14. United Nations General Assembly. Convention on the rights of persons with disabilities: resolution/adopted by the General Assembly. A/RES/61/106. 2007. http://www.un-documents.net/a61r106.htm. Accessed September 12, 2017.Google Scholar
15. Ha, KM. Inclusion of people with disabilities, their needs and participation, into disaster management: a comparative perspective. Environ Hazards. 2016;15:1-15.Google Scholar
16. Tsang, HH, Wenzel, F. Setting structural safety requirement for controlling earthquake mortality risk. Saf Sci. 2016;86:174-183.Google Scholar
17. Phibbs, S, Good, G, Severinsen, C, et al. Emergency preparedness and perceptions of vulnerability among disabled people following the Christchurch earthquakes: applying lessons learnt to the Hyogo Framework for Action. AJDTS, IRDR Conf. 2015;19:37-46.Google Scholar
18. Stough, LM, Sharp, AN, Resch, JA, et al. Barriers to the long-term recovery of individuals with disabilities following a disaster. Disasters. 2016;40:387-410.Google Scholar
19. Statistical Centre of Iran. General results of Iran census 2011: population and housing. Iran; 2011.Google Scholar
20. Djalali, A, Khankeh, H, Öhlén, G, et al. Facilitators and obstacles in pre-hospital medical response to earthquakes: a qualitative study. Scand J Trauma Resusc Emerg Med. 2011;19:30.Google Scholar
21. Pakjouei, S, Vameghi, R, Dejman, M, et al. Satisfaction and related factors among the service users of private rehabilitation centers. Iran Rehabil J. 2014;12:35-42.Google Scholar
22. Pope, C, Ziebland, S, Mays, N. Analysing qualitative data, 3rd ed. Oxford: Blackwell; 2006.Google Scholar
23. Zaletel-Kragelj, L, Bozikov, J. Methods and tools in public health. A handbook for teachers, researchers and health professionals. Lage: Hans Jacobs Publishing Company; 2010.Google Scholar
24. World Health Organization. Definition of an older or elderly person: proposed working definition of an older person in Africa for the MDS Project. http://www.who.int/healthinfo/survey/ageingdefnolder/en/. Accessed March 11, 2012.Google Scholar
25. Creswell, JW. Qualitative inquiry& research design choosing among five approaches, 2nd ed. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications; 2007.Google Scholar
26. Speziale, HS, Streubert, HJ, Carpenter, DR. Qualitative research in nursing: advancing the humanistic imperative. London: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.Google Scholar
27. Abbasi Dolatabadi, Z, Seyedin, H, Aryankhesal, A. Policies on protecting vulnerable people during disasters in Iran: a document analysis. Trauma Mon. 2016;21:e31341, 1-6. doi: 10.5812/traumamon.31341.Google Scholar
28. Jain, SK. Earthquake safety in India: achievements, challenges and opportunities. Bull Earthquake Eng. 2016;14:1337-1436.Google Scholar
29. McClure, LA, Boninger, ML, Oyster, ML, et al. Emergency evacuation readiness of full-time wheelchair users with spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2011;92:491-498.Google Scholar
30. Rooney, C, White, GW. Consumer perspective narrative analysis of a disaster preparedness and emergency response survey from persons with mobility impairments. J Disabil Policy Stud. 2007;17:206-215.Google Scholar
31. Mitchell, D, Karr, V. Crises, conflict and disability: ensuring equality. New York: Routledge; 2014.Google Scholar
32. World Health Organization. Guidance note on disability and emergency risk management for health. Geneva: World Health Organization.Google Scholar