Title: Effects of earthquake experiences on household preparedness: a community-based survey in Kerman Province, Iran

Authors: Ali Khodadadizadeh; Sanaz Sohrabizadeh; Azam Heidarzadeh; Ahmad Reza Sayadi; Katayoun Jahangiri; Fatemeh Sadeghizadeh Janatabadi

Addresses: Social Determinants of Health Research Center, School of Nursing and Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, 7718796755, Iran ' Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1983535511, Iran ' School of Nursing & Midwifery, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, 7718796755, Iran ' Social Determinants of Health Research Center, Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, 7718796755, Iran ' Safety Promotion and Injury Prevention Research Center, School of Public Health and Safety, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, 1983535511, Iran ' Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences, Rafsanjan, 7717933777, Iran

Abstract: Introduction: Iran is considered as one of the highly disaster-prone countries in the world. Preparedness is one of the important phases of disaster management. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of earthquake experiences on household preparedness. Methods: This study was a cross-sectional research conducted on a total of 500 households living in Bam and Rafsanjan counties. The data were collected using a standardised earthquake preparedness questionnaire through randomised sampling. The data were analysed using the T-test and descriptive statistics. Findings: Based on the data, difference of total preparedness scores between two groups was statistically significant (p < 0.01). The mean score of preparedness of Bam households was higher than preparedness of Rafsanjan households. Conclusion: Disaster-experienced households benefit from higher levels of preparedness rather than households without any earthquake experience in Kerman Province, Iran. Community-based education, training, exercising and collaborating are suggested as important factors to improve preparedness.

Keywords: preparedness; readiness; earthquake experience; disaster; natural hazard; household; community; Bam; Rafsanjan; Iran.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEM.2020.112305

International Journal of Emergency Management, 2020 Vol.16 No.2, pp.201 - 212

Received: 18 Jan 2020
Accepted: 31 Aug 2020
Published online: 07 Jan 2021 *

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