title: Assessing household natural disaster preparedness in Shiraz, Iran, 2011: results of a knowledge, attitude, and practices survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Public education and training that focus on appropriate knowledge, attitudes, and practices have had a crucial role in preparedness. The aim of this study was to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices of households regarding natural disasters in Shiraz, Iran.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this cross-sectional descriptive study, we used a stratified random sampling technique. The data collection tool was a self-administered questionnaire, which was completed in through face-to-face interviews. The data were analyzed with the SPSS statistical software package (version 16).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall mean scores were 7.3±2.0 for knowledge, 26.3±6.5 for attitudes, and 5.2±2.2 for practices. Mean scores for all 3 factors were higher in women and married participants. In other comparisons, the differences were statistically significant only for the associations between gender and the score for practices. The mean knowledge score was lower in illiterate participants than in other categories of educational status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our findings showed that the knowledge of households regarding disaster preparedness was encouraging, but that of attitudes and practices might be improved through a greater focus on motivational educational programs and cooperation among the organizations involved in public awareness.
authors: 1Social Determinants of Health Research Center,Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz,Iran.
authors: Hamideh
authors: H
authors: Mahdaviazad
authors: 2Community Medicine Department,Shiraz University of Medical Sciences Shiraz,Iran.
authors: Gholamreza
authors: G
authors: Abdolahifar
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004190:Disasters; D005191:Family Characteristics; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017678:Sex Distribution; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D055815:Young Adult