Haitian and international responders' and decision-makers' perspectives regarding disability and the response to the 2010 Haiti earthquake

摘要

BackgroundFollowing disasters, persons with disabilities (PWD) are especially vulnerable to harm, yet they have commonly been excluded from disaster planning, and their needs have been poorly addressed during disaster relief. Following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, thousands of individuals experienced acute injuries. Many more individuals with preexisting disabilities experienced heightened vulnerability related to considerations including safety, access to services, and meeting basic needs.ObjectiveThe objective of this research was to better understand the perceptions of responders and decision-makers regarding disability and efforts to address the needs of PWD following the 2010 earthquake.DesignWe conducted a qualitative study using interpretive description methodology and semistructured interviews with 14 Haitian and 10 international participants who were involved in the earthquake response.ResultsParticipants identified PWD as being among the most vulnerable individuals following the earthquake. Though...