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Earthquake awareness and perception of risk among the residents of Istanbul

Tekeli-Yeşil, Sıdıka ; Dedeoğlu, Necati ; Braun-Fahrlaender, Charlotte ; Tanner, Marcel

In: Natural Hazards, 2011, vol. 59, no. 1, p. 427-446

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    Title
    • Earthquake awareness and perception of risk among the residents of Istanbul
    Author
    • Tekeli-Yeşil, Sıdıka. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socin Str. 57, P.O. Box 4002, Basel, Switzerland
    • Dedeoğlu, Necati. Medical Faculty Department of Public Health, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
    • Braun-Fahrlaender, Charlotte. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socin Str. 57, P.O. Box 4002, Basel, Switzerland
    • Tanner, Marcel. Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Socin Str. 57, P.O. Box 4002, Basel, Switzerland
    Document Type
    • Postprint
    OAI-PMH Identifier
    • oai:doc.rero.ch:312649
    Summary
    Awareness and perception of risk are among the most crucial steps in the process of taking precautions at individual level for various hazards. In this study, we investigated the factors affecting better knowledge and greater risk perception about earthquakes among residents of Istanbul. A field survey was carried out, and a total of 1,123 people were interviewed in two districts of Istanbul with different seismic risk levels and from three (low, moderate and high) socio-economic levels (SEL). The findings showed that although the level of knowledge regarding earthquakes and preparedness for them was promising, it could be improved. The results indicated that future preparedness programmes should target people with lower educational and socio-economic levels. The media were the leading source of information among the respondents. Location of the home was a strong influence on individuals having above average earthquake knowledge and even more on high risk perception. Socio-economic parameters (educational level, economic status, SEL of the sub-district and tenure of the home), gender and attitude score were other factors influencing greater risk perception with regard to earthquakes