Relationship Between Disaster Literacy and the Factors Affecting it and the State-Trait Anxiety in the Elderly of West Turkey

Abstract

The aim of this study is to measure the effect of anxiety levels and some sociodemographic characteristics of elderly individuals, who are a vulnerable group in disasters, on their disaster literacy. This study is a cross-sectional type study. March May 7 – 2, 2022 residents of the nursing home, located in Izmir Metropolitan Municipality Social Life Campus in Buca district of Izmir province, are the Decedents of the study. As a working group, 210 people were reached. In the questionnaire form created in the study, some sociodemographic characteristics of the participants and their knowledge about disasters were questioned, the State-Continuous Anxiety Scale, Disaster Literacy Scale (DLS) were used. Multinominal Logistic Regression Analysis model was established with categorized of DLS's total score. The mean score of the DLS was insufficient with a score of 27.9±9.41. According to the results of multinomial regression analysis, high trait anxiety state (OR: 1,058 (95% CI: 1,010-1,111)) were found to be risk factors for "insufficient" disaster literacy level (p<0.05). Disaster literacy is a very important concept in protecting against the risks and dangers of disasters. In order to achieve a successful disaster management, all vulnerabilities in the society should be identified and the level of literacy should be increased.