Experiences of rural women with damages resulting from an earthquake in Iran: a qualitative study

Javad Yoosefi Lebni,Bahar Khosravi,Hossein Safari,Farhad Khorami,Farbod Ebadi Fard Azar,Arash Ziapour

doi:10.1186/s12889-020-08752-z

Abstract

BackgroundWomen, with more vulnerabilities and less access to resources, are often seen as victims of natural disasters. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the experiences of rural women with damages resulting from an earthquake in Iran.MethodsIn this research, a qualitative approach, as well as the conventional content analysis was employed. The study population consisted of rural women residing in the earthquake-stricken areas of Sarpol-e Zahab and Salas-e Babajani counties in Kermanshah Province, Iran. Semi-structured interviews were used for data collection. Moreover, sampling was purposeful, theoretical saturation was achieved by conducting 22 interviews, and the data analysis process was performed according to the steps proposed by Graneheim and Lundman. For the strength and transferability of the research, Lincoln and Guba’s Evaluative Criteria were used.ResultsThere were seven categories regarding the experiences of rural women after the earthquakes including neglecting the health needs; tension in the family and marital relations; gender inequality in the provision of assistance; feeling insecure; ignoring the ruling culture of the region; concealing needs for fear of stigmatization, and incoherent mourning as well as two categories regarding their reactions to and interaction with the earthquake consequences including positive and negative interactions.ConclusionsPaying more attention to the needs of rural women, taking the culture governing the village into account at the time of service delivery, and helping them with positive adaptations are some indispensable measures that should be taken.

Highlights

Women, with more vulnerabilities and less access to resources, are often seen as victims of natural disasters
Over 170 thousand people have lost their lives in major earthquakes that occurred in the Iranian cities such as Torbat-e Heydarieh, Kerman, Bam, Shirvan, Larijan, Rudbar, Tabas, Ahar, and Varzaghan [9]
In a few studies conducted by Liu et al (2012) and Qu et al (2012) on rural women stricken by earthquakes in China, the results revealed that 52.2% of participants had psychiatric disorders, and widows and those who witnessed their loved ones dying had more psychiatric disorders

Summary

Introduction

With more vulnerabilities and less access to resources, are often seen as victims of natural disasters. Earthquakes, as the second deadliest natural disaster, have always existed throughout the life of the planet These are unpredictable and out-of-control, which can cause extensive destruction, threaten many lives [1,2,3,4], and can leave profound and lasting effects on the minds and development of human beings [5]. Over 170 thousand people have lost their lives in major earthquakes that occurred in the Iranian cities such as Torbat-e Heydarieh, Kerman, Bam, Shirvan, Larijan, Rudbar, Tabas, Ahar, and Varzaghan [9]. As another example, a 7.3-magnitude earthquake rocked the Kermanshah Province at 9:48 p.m. on Sunday, November 21, 2012, resulting in massive destruction and casualties. According to Iran’s Forensic Medicine Organization, the death toll stood at 620, as well as leaving 9388 injured and 70,000 homeless [10]

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusion