ABSTRACT
Background: Disasters have adverse impacts on different aspects of human life. Psychosocial Rehabilitation is one of the fields which is usually overshadowed and ignored by physical rehabilitation or its importance does not receive proper attention. This research attempts to study some lessons learned from Psychosocial Rehabilitation based on disaster experiences in Iran
Materials and Methods: This study has a conventional qualitative content analysis design. The participants of study were 15 people with direct experience of earthquake and 12 experts in this field. The study sample was selected by purposeful sampling method and the data were collected by semi-structured interviews
Results: Lack of a suitable system to deliver Psychosocial Rehabilitation, challenge in establishing balance between short-term and long-term social and mental needs, lack of mental and social experts, inefficiency in using social capital and capacities are the most important lessons learned in this field
Conclusion: Lack of awareness of mental and social problems of affected people after disaster is one of the most important barriers in successful and stable rehabilitation. Psychosocial Rehabilitation requires a suitable structure and planning for all stages of disaster management
ABSTRACT
Background: This study aimed to prospectively analyze the effect of a major earthquake on the prevalence of psychological disorders such as acute stress disorder [ASD], anxiety, depression, mixed anxiety depression disorder [MADD], phobia, aggressive behavior, insomnia, psychosomatic disorders and also sociodemographic aspects among residents of rural community sample in East Azerbaijan, Iran
Materials and Methods: The sample was composed of 801 adults exposed to the earthquake. Two months after the earthquake, all subjects were surveyed with measures administrated in a standard order as follows: demographic data sheet, disaster experiences scale [DES], general health questionnaire [GHQ], and symptom checklist 90-revised [SCL-90-R]
Results: The results revealed that 23% of the survivors in the exposed group had ASD, 10% had anxiety symptoms, 7.5% depression, 4% MADD, 5% psychosomatic disorders, 10% phobia, 7% aggressive behavior, and 10% insomnia
Conclusion: This article has summarized the current status of information on mental disorders caused by experiencing or witnessing a life threatening severe earthquake. The experience of fear, helplessness, and panic during the earthquake, and the appraisal by the victims of serious psychological, social, as well as demographical consequences after the earthquake, were positively related to the subscale scores and the total score of GHQ, SCL-90-R, and DES
ABSTRACT
Background: Some disaster-stricken people in Iran are still experiencing challenges of resuming normal life several months after the incident. However, there is not sufficient and in-depth understanding of the factors affecting the complex process of post disaster recovery in Iran and rural areas in particular. This study aimed to explore the status of social capital in the process of returning to normal life after an earthquake
Materials and Methods: This study was conducted with the qualitative content analysis method. A total of 20 persons from the earthquake-stricken areas and 7 people with relevant scientific background and expertise were selected via purposeful sampling. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, and field notes from August 2013 to January 2014. Data collection continued to achieve data saturation. Data analysis was based on qualitative content analysis
Results: The ignorance of social capital was one of the most significant concepts explored in the process of "back to the normal life" after earthquake. This concept was divided into 4 subcategories of 1] top-down paternalistic approach, 2] undermining of trust, 3] undermining of social networks and self-centering, 4] inefficiency of the social institutions, and 5] social cohesion and social division
Conclusion: This study showed that many reason for ignoring social capital in the process of "back to the normal life" after earthquake should be considered in the recovery management. Policy-makers are suggested to consider a comprehensive plan for using and enhancing the social capital in the process of returning to normal life after earthquakes. This plan can provide an opportunity for rehabilitation after disasters