Analysis of the Level of Awareness and Knowledge of Risk Management among Rural Children from Earthquake Risk (Case Study: Villages of Zirkouh Township Located in South Khorasan Province)

In recent years, studies on children’s perception and knowledge of risks and strengthening their preparedness against risks have increased. This can be due to the change of disaster management approaches from the passive approaches of the past to efforts for pre-danger management and the increasing influence of the readiness of all groups and strata of a society, including children. This study evaluated and analyzed the level of awareness of children of the danger of earthquakes in the form of variables of recognizing the risk and its causes and effects, and how to face it in the form of the variables of awareness of preventive measures, preparation and optimal methods of response among 169 children of 5 to 12 years old in Zirkouh, South Khorasan province. Questionnaire and interviewes were used for collecting data. The findings showed that the average level of awareness and knowledge of risk management among rural children is very low and needs to be improved. The results of the single-sample t-test in evaluating the average awareness and knowledge of risk management in all four measured dimensions are lower than the average value level. Moreover, the results of the correlation test showed that there is a significant positive relationship between the perception and awareness of the nature of the earthquake with the knowledge of risk management regarding the four dimensions.