Determining the Reasons Behind Women's Vulnerability During Disasters: A Qualitative Study

According the publishled of manuscripts, women have been one of greatest victims of disasters. Due to the importance of the prevention, recognition of vulnerable groups and their empowerment how to deal with disasters, the objective of this study was to recognize the need of wemen in diseaster situations in from the psychological point of view.
A qualitative study, through semi-structured interviews by 33 experts in the various fields of psychology, psychiatry, psychiatric Nursing, social care and welfare, social medicine and gender studies and experts in disasters, was conducted. Snowball Sampling in the provinces of Tehran, Isfahan and Mashhad in year (2016) was conducted. In order to achieve sample transferring capability, samples with maximum variety were selected. Also, to ensure reliability and verifiability of interviews, transcripts and codes were presented to each participant. The gathered data was analyzed using content analysis method. The ethical considerations for qualitative studies were observed in this study.
The results of this study determined 4 main codes and 30 sub-codes for psychological reasons behind women’s vulnerability during disasters. The sub themes related to opinions of women being vulnerable included physiological reasons (hormonal factors, emotional factors and lower physical capabilities), social reasons (weaker social roles, lower social support, incorrect beliefs and social roles, conflict between tradition and modernity, Patriarchal culture, lower social, economic and literacy status, religious beliefs and policies and laws) and psychological reasons (mental disorders, emotions and maternal instincts).
Most interviewees believed that the reason behind women’s vulnerability during disaster depends on psychological and other social and biological factors.