Access to Healthcare in Earthquakes and National Newspaper Reports: Thematic Analysis of the February 6, 2023, Earthquakes
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63556/tisej.2026.1828Keywords:
Disaster, Earthquake, Thematic Analysis, Media, Access to HealthcareAbstract
This study aims to investigate how access to healthcare services following the 6 February 2023 earthquakes was represented in national newspapers and how these representations varied across newspapers with different editorial orientations. This study analyzes 262 news articles published in six major national newspapers in Türkiye following the February 6, 2023, earthquakes centered on Kahramanmaraş. It focuses on coverage related to access to healthcare services in the aftermath of the disaster. Using inductive thematic analysis, the study identified six key themes. The crisis management and emergency response theme includes reports on the coordination efforts of government agencies and search-and-rescue teams immediately after the earthquakes. The healthcare accessibility theme discusses the opportunities available to disaster survivors to receive medical care, as well as the obstacles and disruptions they encounter. The healthcare infrastructure and field hospital’s theme addresses damaged and destroyed medical facilities, as well as temporary health structures established in the region. The psychosocial support theme covers mental health services and trauma care in the post-earthquake period. The public solidarity theme highlights community-based mutual aid, civil society organizations' activities, and international assistance efforts. The neglect and inadequacy theme involves critical reports on delays in healthcare delivery, coordination failures, and infrastructure deficiencies. Across these themes, significant differences emerged in how newspapers framed the post-earthquake healthcare narrative. The findings aim to support planning healthcare services during disasters, enhance crisis management strategies, and inform health policy development. Future research is recommended to conduct comparative analyses across different media types.
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