Approaches to children’s rights by volunteer and professional workers responding to disasters: A quantitative research in Turkey

Abstract

Background

Disasters disproportionately affect children, one of the most vulnerable populations due to their dependency and limited coping mechanisms. Professionals like AFAD volunteers, UMKE teams, security officers, and firefighters play pivotal roles in disaster response. However, their awareness of and approaches to children’s rights in disaster contexts remain underexplored. This study evaluates the attitudes and behaviors of disaster response professionals toward children’s rights and identifies factors influencing these approaches.

Methods

This descriptive, cross-sectional study included 214 participants, including AFAD volunteers, UMKE members, security officers, and firefighters. Data were collected through an online survey and analyzed using SPSS. Chi-square and Bonferroni-adjusted z-tests examined relationships between demographic characteristics and participants’ awareness of children’s rights.

Results

Only 25.7 % of participants reported receiving training on children’s rights. While UMKE personnel showed the highest awareness levels, firefighters were the least informed. A majority (88.8 %) believed disaster response plans should incorporate child-specific measures, though nearly 40 % felt current protections were insufficient.

Conclusion

These findings highlight the necessity of targeted training programs to enhance the awareness and implementation of child-centered approaches by disaster response teams. Integrating children’s rights into disaster management frameworks is critical for safeguarding their well-being during emergencies.