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A Qualitative Study of Violence Against Women after the Recent Disasters of Iran

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 May 2016

Sanaz Sohrabizadeh
Sanaz Sohrabizadeh*
Affiliation:
Department of Health in Disasters and Emergencies, School of Health, Safety and Environment, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
*
Correspondence: Sanaz Sohrabizadeh, PhD School of Health, Safety, and Environment Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences Velenjak St. Tehran, Iran E-mail: sohrabizadeh@sbmu.ac.ir
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Abstract

Introduction

Violence against women (VAW) is one of the most widespread violations of human rights and a major barrier to achieving gender equality. Violence against women is increased in disaster-stricken communities. Violence experiences, cases, and lessons-learned concerning Iran’s disasters have not been investigated, documented, or shared so far. To fill this knowledge gap, this qualitative study aimed to explore types of VAW and girls after the recent quakes and floods in Iran.

Problem

The objective for this study was exploring the manifestations of VAW after the natural disasters in Iran.

Methods

A qualitative approach was used for this study. Data were collected by in-depth, unstructured interviews and field observations in three affected regions of Iran, including East Azerbaijan, Bushehr, and Mazandaran. A total of 15 participants, eight damaged women as well as seven key informants, were interviewed. A content analysis using Graneheim approach was performed for analyzing transcribed interviews.

Results

Two main themes were extracted from data, including domestic violence and violence within community. The first theme included three categories: physical, psychological, and sexual violence. Psychological violence and sexual harassment were two categories of violence within the community concept.

Conclusion

Different types of violence emerged from the present research that can be anticipated and integrated into future disaster medicine plans, public health reforms, and national rules of Iran. Improving women’s knowledge on their rights to have a life without violence, and participation of both women and men in violence reduction projects, can be considered in all disaster management phases.

SohrabizadehS. A Qualitative Study of Violence Against Women after the Recent Disasters of Iran. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2016;31(4):407–412.

Keywords

genderIrannatural disastersviolence against women
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 31 , Issue 4 , August 2016 , pp. 407 - 412
Copyright
© World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2016 

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