The status of risk perception and behavioral factors related to reducing the risk of natural disasters in the south of Kerman province

Disasters can lead to large human casualties, destruction of property and economic and environmental resources. The purpose of the present study was to determine the status of risk perception and behaviors related to reducing the risk of natural disasters in the south of Kerman province.

This quantitative and cross-sectional study was conducted on 528 households in Jiroft city. Sampling was done by combined method. A total of 528 households were included. The tools for collecting data were demographic information and a researcher-made questionnaire related to risk perception and preventive behaviors from the harmful effects of natural disasters. Data was analyzed using SPSS v21 software, and the necessary analyzes  (descriptive tests, chi-square and Pearson's correlation test) were performed at a significance level of 0.05.

The results showed 51.7% lived in the city and 62.1% of residential buildings were of brick without markings. There is a significant difference between preventive behaviors and direct exposure to disasters (p<0.001), education (p=0.004), monthly income (p=0.004) and source of information (p=0.040). There was also a significant correlation between preventive behaviors and the number of vulnerable family members (p=0.001, r=0.160). Also, the status of understanding the risk of the harmful effects of natural disasters was in the medium range, and a positive and significant relationship was found between the understanding of the risk of natural disasters and preventive behaviors from the harmful effects of natural disasters (r=0.312, P=0.000).

According to the results of the study, it is suggested that health planners design and implement educational interventions based on the state of risk perception and the state of preventive behaviors against natural disasters to increase the preparedness of households against natural disasters.