People's perspectives and expectations on preparedness against earthquakes: Tehran case study (original) (raw)
People's perspectives and expectations on preparedness against earthquake: Tehran case study
2011
Background: Public education is one of the most important elements of earthquake preparedness. The present study identifies methods and appropriate strategies for public awareness and education on preparedness for earthquakes based on people's opinions in the city of Tehran. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study and a door-to-door survey of residents from 22 municipal districts in Tehran, the capital city of Iran. It involved a total of 1 211 individuals aged 15 and above. People were asked about different methods of public information and education, as well as the type of information needed for earthquake preparedness. Results: "Enforcing the building contractors' compliance with the construction codes and regulations" was ranked as the first priority by 33.4% of the respondents. Over 70% of the participants (71.7%) regarded TV as the most appropriate means of media communication to prepare people for an earthquake. This was followed by "radio" which was selected by 51.6% Accepted 2009-05-20 planning, development, and dissemination of essential information to all stakeholders including the local communities.
Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Tehran’s Inhabitants for an Earthquake and Related Determinants
Background A major destructive earthquake is predicted to shake the Tehran city in the near future. To mitigate the damage from such earthquakes, it is necessary to assess the preparedness of people and find the related risk factors. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted in Tehran city among people aged 15 years or older in 2009. 1195 of Tehran’s residents were interviewed using a questionnaire. Pearson chi-square test and binary logistic regression were used in order to evaluate the factors associated with preparedness against an earthquake. Results The analysis showed that 1076 (90.0%), 1160 (97.1%), and 490 (41.0%) of the participants achieved half of the possible scores for the knowledge, attitude, and practice components, respectively. Furthermore, in multivariate analysis low knowledge (p<0.001), having a high-school (p=0.033) or lower education (p<0.001) and living in Northern high-risk regions (p<0.001) of the Tehran were identified as risk factors for taking precautionary measures against earthquake. For low knowledge, lack of previous experience (p<0.001), and working as labor, businessman, employee (p=0.001) or being housewife (p=0.002) were related risk factors. In addition, people in the Southern high risk regions were significantly more knowledgeable (OR=0.618 compared to people in low risk regions) about earthquakes. Conclusions It is suggested that preparedness programs should target people with lower educational level and people in high risk regions especially the Northern districts of the city and aim at increasing public knowledge about earthquakes.
Earthquake Preparedness Knowledge and Practice of Secondary Level
Bouddhik Abhiyan (बौद्धिक अभियान)
This paper attempts to analyze earthquake preparedness knowledge and practice of secondary-level students in Nepal. In this paper, earthquake preparedness knowledge and practice refer to the understanding and implementation of measures to minimize the potential damage and loss of life caused by earthquakes, including proper building design and construction, emergency planning, and regular drills and training for individuals and communities. Earthquake preparedness knowledge and practice are essential for secondary-level school students because the losses of mortalities, morbidities, and economics from earthquakes cannot be predicted in the world. In this paper, a descriptive research design and quantitative approach as well as primary sources of data were used. Primary data were collected from semi-structured questionnaires with the students of Grades 9 and 10 of the government school of Bhaktapur, Bagmati Province. Of the total 96 students were censused using the rule of thumb meth...
Health in Emergencies and Disasters Quarterly, 2018
Local preparedness against earthquakes has been recently highlighted in research and policies on disaster management and risk reduction promotion in Iran. To advance the understanding of public preparedness and how it can be applied in diverse localities, further information is required about the predictors of people's adoption of mitigation activities and earthquake preparedness. A synthesis of the available published research results on earthquake preparedness and the influencing factors in Iran are presented in this literature review. It emphasizes the complexity of both the concept of preparedness and the contextual factors that mediate its adoption. The predominant roles of public awareness, trusted information resources, social capital and community collaboration as predictors are discussed.
Local preparedness against earthquakes has been recently highlighted in research and policies on disaster management and risk reduction promotion in Iran. To advance the understanding of public preparedness and how it can be applied in diverse localities, further information is required about the predictors of people's adoption of mitigation activities and earthquake preparedness. A synthesis of the available published research results on earthquake preparedness and the influencing factors in Iran are presented in this literature review. It emphasizes the complexity of both the concept of preparedness and the contextual factors that mediate its adoption. The predominant roles of public awareness, trusted information resources, social capital and community collaboration as predictors are discussed.
The evaluation of the education for earthquake preparation addressed to middle school students
JPMA. The Journal of the Pakistan Medical Association, 2018
OBJECTIVE To investigate the effectiveness of the 'Are We Prepared for an Earthquake?' education provided bynurses to students of sixth and seventh grades. METHODS The quasi-experimental study was conducted in Kemalpasa district of Izmir, Turkey, from October 2015 to May 2016, and comprised students of sixth and seventh grades at six middle schools in the 2015-16 academic year. Data was collected using 'Are We Prepared for an Earthquake?' questionnaire that included questions about socio-demographic variables, earthquake knowledge test, and family disaster preparation plans checklist. The score ranged from 0 to 20. An interactive packet education programme consisting of class presentation, game and animated videos was delivered and post-intervention scores were compared with baseline. RESULTS Of 1151 students, 559(48.5%) were in the sixth grade, and 592(51.4%) were in the seventh. The overall mean earthquake knowledge and family disaster preparedness scores increased...
Education: Can a bottom-up strategy help for earthquake disaster prevention?
Bulletin of Earthquake Engineering, 2015
To comply with the need to spread the culture of earthquake disaster reduction, we rely on strategies that involve education. Risk education is a long-term process that passes from knowledge, through understanding, to choices and actions thrusting preparedness and prevention, over recovery. We set up strategies for prevention that encompass child and adult education, as a bottom-up approach, from raising awareness to reducing potential effects of disruption of society. Analysis of compulsory school education in three European countries at high seismic risk, namely Portugal, Iceland and Italy, reveals that generally there are a few State-backed plans. The crucial aspects of risk education concerning natural hazards are starting age, incompleteness of textbooks, and lack of in-depth studies of the pupils upon completion of their compulsory education cycle. Hands-on tools, immersive environments, and learn-by-playing approaches are the most effective ways to raise interest in children, to provide memory imprint as a message towards a culture of safety. A video game, Treme-treme, was prepared to motivate, educate, train and communicate earthquake risk to players/pupils. The game focuses on do's and don'ts for earthquake shaking, and allows children to think about what might be useful in the case of evacuation. Education of the general public was addressed using audio-visual products strongly linked to the social, historical and cultural background of each country. Five videos tackled rising of awareness of seismic hazards in Lisbon, the area surrounding Reykjavik, Naples, and Catania, four urban areas prone to earthquake disasters.