Managing Post-Disaster Primary Health Care: Experiences of Public Health Professionals After the 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquake

Objectives: To explore the post-earthquake experiences and perspectives of public health specialists, with a particular focus on the delivery of public health services following the 2023 Kahramanmaraş earthquake. Methods: This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach, aiming to capture lived experiences and contextual understanding of the situation. In-depth interviews were conducted with 15 public health specialists. Participants were selected through purposive sampling. Data were collected via in-depth interviews and analyzed thematically using multiple coding by the research team. Results: Public health specialists reported experiencing stress, burnout, and housing difficulties due to increased workloads and suboptimal working conditions, despite also expressing a sense of professional fulfillment in crisis management. Key challenges included problems in temporary housing, infectious disease control, and insufficient coordination in primary healthcare services and community-based approaches. Poor coordination, vague job roles, and inadequate training and resources were cited as significant barriers to effective disaster response. Conclusion: The main challenges following the earthquake included increased workloads and unclear role definitions. These findings underscore the importance of establishing pre-defined job descriptions and clear lines of authority to improve disaster preparedness and response in the health sector.