The role of female volunteers in disaster response organisations: A qualitative research

BACKGROUND: Despite a high demand for people to participate in disaster volunteering, the extent of contribution received from female volunteers in disaster response organisations constitutes an important debate. In the Elazığ earthquake on 24 January 2020, the role of female volunteers in rescuing a female victim from the wreckage once again demonstrated the importance of considering female volunteers when creating response capacities for disaster risks. OBJECTIVE: This qualitative study aims to evaluate the roles of female volunteers who play an active role in disaster response organisations in a society with gender equality issues. METHODS: This qualitative study included 15 National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE) female volunteers who took an active role in the Elazig earthquake and was performed between 15.07.2020 and 16.04.2021. Data were collected using an in-depth interview method. The data were analyzed using content analysis and the comments were given descriptively. RESULTS: Based on the qualitative analysis, the following concepts were explored among the participants: Volunteering, volunteering in disasters, the effects of volunteering on social life, being a woman in disasters, volunteering female in disasters, the 'motherhood myth', gender inequality. Women are key actors in tackling disaster damage and increasing available social resilience to disasters. In addition, women can use special attributes such as motherhood, which is socio-culturally defined and taught as an advantage, for the common good of society. Moreover, special elements, such as the image of the 'superwoman' in relation to the responsibilities imposed on women in disaster response organisations, which distort gender equality against women, appear as possible factors of harm for women. CONCLUSION: This study shows that female volunteers can play a life-saving role in chaotic situations such as disasters, contribute to the empowerment of women, increase sensitivity to gender and, in connection with this, the development of democracy in societies where gender inequality is high. On the other hand, special situations such as the image of 'superwoman', which aims for excellence in both private and public spheres in the responsibilities imposed on women, can destroy gender equality against women and increase women's fragility

Effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on violence against pre-hospital emergency health workers

BACKGROUND: Violence against pre-hospital emergency health workers is a growing problem worldwide and negatively impacts the effectiveness of emergency services. The social distancing, isolation and quarantine measures that have been employed to reduce the spread of COVID-19 have also had economic and psychosocial effects. Therefore, it is important to explore how the negative repercussions of the COVID-19 pandemic have influenced these violent incidents that interfere with the work of emergency medical services (EMS). OBJECTIVE: This study aims to evaluate how violence against EMS workers has been impacted by the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS: This study takes an interpretive social science approach, using the qualitative method of in-depth semi-structured interviewing. Audio of the interviews was recorded with the interviewee's consent. Sound recordings were transcribed and their content was categorised into themes. Categorised texts were then evaluated using descriptive analysis. RESULTS: Participants reported that, during the COVID-19 pandemic, they encountered more violence than usual on EMS assignments to non-emergency situations, though a sense of gratitude towards health workers at the beginning of the pandemic and positives attitudes towards health workers also contributed to reduced violence towards them. The data indicate that workplace violence among EMS employees has increased as the problems caused by the pandemic have intensified, suggesting that additional measures need to be taken to protect them. CONCLUSION: In parallel with an increase in social violence during the COVID-19 pandemic, violence against EMS workers also increased in prevalence. A multidimensional approach should now be taken to determine how violence against EMS employees will be affected by risks such as the intergenerational transmission of social violence, a psychosocial repercussion of the COVID-19 pandemic, especially considering the increasing workplace violence among EMS employees