MA Disaster and Emergency Management Theses
Permanent URI for this collection
Browse
Recent Submissions
Item Applying a Health Equity Lens to Virtual Primary Care for Socially Vulnerable Groups During the Covid-19 Pandemic(2023) Dallison, Agnes, Eva; Hutton, DavidIn primary care, patients seek care for all their comorbidities, not just for a solitary, defining, major health condition. Making primary care available to all population segments helps maintain a community's or entire population's health. However, many disaster planning documents do not adequately consider social determinants of health and community diversity that underpin primary care and therefore fall short of planning for primary care delivery during a disaster. Vulnerability to disaster is more than simply physical presence during a natural hazard, but also considers social factors surrounding individuals and communities that dictate how likely they are to be harmed and suffer losses. To understand the utility of virtual primary care in a disaster setting for all groups, including socially vulnerable patients, this study was conducted in Calgary, Alberta, with data obtained from the Mosaic Primary Care Network (MPCN), one of 40 Primary Care Networks in Alberta. The data were collected within MPCN as part of routine research and process evaluation. Two datasets were obtained; one with patient-level data and one with provider-level data. A total of ~531,000 patient encounters were recorded between June 1, 2018, and June 30, 2022, to which a material deprivation index could be applied. Primary care delivery through virtual care favoured higher SES patients that could access technology, possessed digital literacy, and had low-barrier communication abilities. Select social groups were more affected than others; three of the most affected were older, male, and the most materially deprived. Systemic and individual-level barriers were identified. The findings of this study confirm that the individuals that comprise vulnerable groups do indeed engage with primary care differently than non-vulnerable groups and that a pivot to entirely virtual care in disaster situations does not take health equity into account.Item Emergency Shelters During the COVID-19 Pandemic: An Exploration into the Needs of Women Fleeing Intimate Partner Violence(2023) Parker, Caitlin; Hutton, DavidPublic Health Emergencies such as the COVID-19 pandemic give rise to distinctive and complex stressors which can increase intimate partner violence. This violence can lead to women fleeing their homes and into emergency shelters where specific needs are expressed. This study utilized a qualitative approach to explore what changes women’s shelter organizations have observed in the needs of women, how they have addressed these needs during the pandemic, and what impact these changes have had on the women. The findings highlighted the unique challenges organizations faced throughout the pandemic and how these organizations adapted to these challenges. The study illustrated that the circumstances surrounding the pandemic have required organizations to adopt and implement updated policies and procedures to increase opportunities for women to access their services and concludes with four recommendations for women’s shelters.Item Deepening Our Understanding of Disaster Displacement: A Phenomenological Study of Sulphur, Louisiana(2023) Ewert, Maya; Stukes, PatriciaClimate-related disasters are increasing in the Anthropocene. A common outcome of disasters is displacement which complicates and extends recovery. Housing recovery is crucial to sustainable recovery. This thesis used a phenomenological framework to investigate the experiences of displaced persons in Sulphur, Louisiana, following Hurricane(s) Laura and Delta in 2020. An emphasis was placed on disaster displacement as perceived by those who experienced it to understand and address the challenges disaster survivors face during short and long-term recovery. The literature review provided a precursory explanation of relevant concepts to explain how disaster, vulnerability, resilience, recovery, and displacement were understood within the thesis. Whether voluntary or involuntary, displacement can be impacted by race, health, gender, social capital, and class.The central research question was: is the phenomenon of displacement experienced differentially among disaster survivors living in Sulphur, LA, following 2020’s Hurricane(s) Laura and Delta? The research was structured utilizing a qualitative methodology and an interpretive approach to inquiry. The primary method used was in-depth, semi-structured interviews. Most participants were women, all were white, and approximate ages ranged from 25 to 65. Several key themes arose from the data: social capital, access to resources, COVID-19, health, belonging, and compassion. The results of this study show that displacement was experienced differentially. The differences were caused by access to social and economic resources, health, and location. “Community” was broadly used by participants to discuss their support networks. Some recommendations for research and practice emerged: counseling as a standard practice, investing in social capital, using an equity lens, and further research. In the face of increasingly dangerous climate-related hazards, government assistance is needed to provide health care, basic necessities, and housing. Sustainable recovery requires long-term support networks that can identify and aid those most vulnerable to disaster impacts. Keywords: disaster, displacement, social capital, class, sustainable recovery, housing, health, community, Hurricane Laura, Hurricane Delta, Sulphur, Louisiana, Covid-19Item Mapping institutional interactions in the Canadian CCA and DRR landscape: an exploratory social network analysis(2023-07-11) Séguin, Daniel; Godsoe, MatthewCanada is experiencing increased frequency and intensity of natural hazards from widespread and rapid changes to its weather, surrounding oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere. Recently, the IPCC urged that swift and coordinated international action was necessary to avoid the increasingly devastating consequences of climate change and irreversible risks should the world be unable to change course. However, while all levels of government and many institutions actively respond through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities, international evidence suggests that the fields are working in silos and not coordinating with one another at the cost of effectiveness and efficiency. In response, this study undertook an exploratory Social Network Analysis (SNA) to understand the current degree of DRR and CCA integration in Canada by visualizing their network and relations, identifying key actors, and surfacing clusters to make recommendations on increasing network effectiveness. The key findings demonstrated that CCA and DRR organizations in Canada operate in silos. Further, a mix of federal government departments and non-profit organizations were central in the network, listing information collecting, organization, analysis, and dissemination as their organizational mandates. Results also demonstrated that risk management and climate-related data outputs are common ground between the two fields. Finally, the results revealed clusters within the current network. Overall, this study demonstrated relevant and significant opportunities in Canada to increase the integration of the CCA and DRR network to improve efficiencies of climate-related mitigation and adaptation activities.Item Exploring homeowner wildfire mitigation adoption in British Columbia’s Cariboo Region(2023-01-09) Edwards, Glen; Pearce, LaurieBritish Columbia must adapt to a rise in wildfire disasters. Homeowner wildfire mitigation should be a part of this adaptation and is advocated by FireSmart. However, adoption remains low. This qualitative research project explored the adoption of wildfire mitigation activities by homeowners using field studies, interviews, and a focus group with participants from four communities in BC’s Cariboo Region. The research found that all participants were interested in wildfire mitigation. However, they varied in how they prepared their homes. Participants described being involved in three different wildfire mitigation processes. These processes were related, but had different motivations, considerations, and goals. Engagement with these processes over time resulted in reduced wildfire risks but could be impeded in several ways. The results indicate that supporting these different processes in different ways, and with consideration to how they are impeded, may lead to greater overall success with supporting community wildfire risk reduction.