From vulnerability to recovery: policy lessons from the Khoy earthquake, Iran, on supporting female-headed households in disasters

Female headed households (FHHs) are among the most vulnerable populations during and after disasters because preexisting gender, social, and economic inequalities are often intensified throughout the recovery process. Although previous studies have examined individual aspects of vulnerability, limited qualitative evidence has explored how multiple dimensions of vulnerability interact to shape the post disaster experiences of FHHs in earthquake affected settings in Iran. This study explored the lived experiences of female headed households following the 2023 Khoy earthquake and identified implications for gender-responsive disaster policy and practice. A qualitative study using an inductive qualitative content analysis approach was conducted following the 2023 Khoy earthquake in West Azerbaijan Province, Iran. Participants were purposively selected based on their direct disaster experience or professional involvement in disaster response, and data collection continued until data saturation was achieved. Data were collected through 28 semi structured individual interviews (22 organizational officials and disaster experts and 6 women and girls, including female-headed households), 5 focus group discussions involving 43 participants, and 5 expert panel discussions involving 22 disaster risk management specialists. Individual interviews explored participants lived experiences, focus group discussions generated multidisciplinary perspectives, and expert panels validated the findings and developed policy recommendations. Data were analyzed using the inductive qualitative content analysis approach described by Graneheim and Lundman. Trustworthiness was enhanced through methodological and investigator triangulation, member checking, peer debriefing, and independent coding by three researchers. The findings demonstrated that post disaster vulnerability among female headed households is shaped by the interaction of health, economic, psychosocial, legal, and social factors. These interconnected challenges reduced access to healthcare, livelihoods, legal protection, and support services while increasing caregiving responsibilities and limiting recovery. Expert panel discussions identified key priorities for gender responsive disaster recovery, including equitable access to services, livelihood support, continuity of healthcare, legal assistance, community based support, effective risk communication, and disaster preparedness. This study demonstrates that the vulnerability of female-headed households following the Khoy earthquake is not driven by a single factor but by the intersection of health challenges, economic insecurity, caregiving responsibilities, social exclusion, legal insecurity, and limited access to rights and essential services. By illustrating how these dimensions interact to shape recovery trajectories, the study provides new qualitative evidence that advances understanding of gendered disaster vulnerability in Iran and contributes to the international disaster literature. The findings support the integration of gender-responsive, multisectoral strategies into disaster preparedness, response, and long term recovery policies to promote equitable and resilient recovery for female headed households.