Managing Post-Disaster Primary Health Care: Experiences of Public Health Professionals After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake.

Sahan C., Bilgin A. C., Kılıç B., Bulut P., Mert E., Kantaş S. N., ...Daha Fazla

International journal of public health, cilt.70, ss.1608363, 2025 (SCI-Expanded, SSCI, Scopus) identifier identifier

  • Yayın Türü: Makale / Tam Makale
  • Cilt numarası: 70
  • Basım Tarihi: 2025
  • Doi Numarası: 10.3389/ijph.2025.1608363
  • Dergi Adı: International journal of public health
  • Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), Scopus, BIOSIS, MEDLINE, Psycinfo, Directory of Open Access Journals
  • Sayfa Sayıları: ss.1608363
  • Anahtar Kelimeler: earthquake, disaster management, primary health care, public health professionals, public health services
  • Dokuz Eylül Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet

Özet

Abstract

Objectives: 

To explore the post-earthquake experiences and perspectives of public health specialists, with a particular focus on the delivery of public health services following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake.

Methods: 

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach, aiming to capture lived experiences and contextual understanding of the situation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 public health specialists. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically using multiple coding by the research team.

Results: 

Public health specialists reported experiencing stress, burnout, and housing difficulties due to increased workloads and suboptimal working conditions, despite also expressing a sense of professional fulfillment in crisis management. Key challenges included problems in temporary housing, infectious disease control, and insufficient coordination in primary healthcare services and community-based approaches. Poor coordination, vague job roles, and inadequate training and resources were cited as significant barriers to effective disaster response.

Conclusion: 

The main challenges following the earthquake included increased workloads and unclear role definitions. These findings underscore the importance of establishing pre-defined job descriptions and clear lines of authority to improve disaster preparedness and response in the health sector.