Experience of people with physical disability: Mobility needs during earthquakes

People with physical disability are vulnerable in disasters because of their mobility limitations. They are unable to escape from hazards and their needs have been somewhat neglected in planning and relief measures.

This study aimed to identify the mobility needs of people with physical disability during earthquakes across different provinces of Iran.

A qualitative study was conducted using 18 semi‑structured interviews with participants who had a kind of mobility disability. The participants, across six provinces of Iran who had experienced an earthquake, were selected by purposive sampling in two ways of snowballing and maximum variation in 2017. Data were analyzed thematically assisted by MAXQDA 10 software.

The mobility needs included house and workplace adaptation, spare assistive devices, easy access to vehicles, special facilities for emergency evacuation, adaptation and accessibility of shelters, adapted bathroom and toilet, and transferring by others.

By considering needs and experiences of people with physical disability in disaster planning, appropriate interventions can be arranged to promote the level of response in disasters. Such measures can have a significant role in maintaining the lives and health of such people.