Post-earthquake trauma levels of women and affecting factors

Earthquakes can cause severe psychological trauma, especially in vulnerable groups like women. This study was conducted to determine the trauma levels of women following the 6 February 2023 earthquakes with the epicenter Kahramanmaraş and affecting factors. The sample of this descriptive study included 317 women living in a province in eastern Turkey. This study was carried out between October 2023 and May 2024. Data were collected using the convenience sampling method, with a Personal Information Form and the Post-Earthquake Trauma Scale (PETS). Descriptive statistics and independent-samples t-tests were utilized in the analyses of the data. The mean total PETS score of the participants was 58.84 ± 15.19. There were statistically significant differences between the PETS scores of the participants who thought they were going to die during the earthquakes, those who lost their loved ones during the earthquakes, those who witnessed injured or deceased people after the earthquakes, those who experienced financial losses, and those who experienced problems related to food, shelter, and security and the PETS scores of the participants who did not experience these issues (p < 0.001, p < 0.05). The post-earthquake trauma levels of women were high, and the problems they experienced following the earthquakes affected their trauma levels. Hence, psychosocial support for women should be prioritized in disaster management, and healthcare systems should involve systematic preparations and personnel training programs in all relevant aspects of disaster response.