The Roles and Duties of Physiotherapists on Women's Health During Disaster Period

Abstract

The incidence of disasters is increasing in Turkey, and in addition to the great loss of life experienced as a result of these disasters, there is also a large increase in the number of individuals in need of rehabilitation. Today, disasters and the physical, mental and environmental damage caused by disasters affect the lives of women, especially. Considering the place of women in society, starting rehabilitation for women at an early age will play an important role in the recovery of society. Physiotherapists, especially those working on women's health, will become very important in the evaluation, treatment and adaptation of these problems to daily life, with the knowledge and capacity they have. The most common problems experienced by women in the post-disaster period are; deterioration of genital hygiene, menstrual problems, problems experienced during pregnancy and after birth, and pelvic floor dysfunctions. The practices that physiotherapists can do in these problems in accordance with environmental conditions are physiotherapy-related evaluations, manual applications, different exercise approaches and preventive approaches that can be recommended for these problems. However, these manual applications and exercises should be planned specifically for the individual and should be responsive to responses in a short time. Creating comprehensive rehabilitation interventions involving trained and experienced physiotherapists in disaster management programs will increase the functional status and quality of life of disaster victims