Perceptions of Thais on the tsunami victim identification process

Public health professionals are called upon to assist in disaster management. This study reports on the disaster victim identification (DVI) process, one public health aspect of the 2004 post tsunami response in Thailand. Objectives: The purposes of this study were to identify: 1) the adequacy, appropriateness, and equity of information on the DVI practices perceived by affected local people; 2) the understanding and satisfaction of those locals to the DVI processes, i.e., local management and the DVI protocol of the Interpol; 3) problems in the identification process; and 4) social, cultural and religious aspects affecting the identification process. Methods: Semi-structured, face-to-face, in-depth interviews were conducted by two trained researchers. Thirty-nine key informants who collectively lost 82 direct family members and had engaged in the identification process, provided information for this report. Verbatim interviews were reviewed, analyzed and extracted to themes agreed upon by both researchers. Results: 1) recognition of the value of local and community networks especially on the dissemination of victim identification and welfare information after the disaster; 2) the need to pool mass media as special public relations as part of the information system during and after a large scale disaster; 3) the need for diverse victim identification processes based on the post-mortem phases; 4) the need for one-stop identification and related services; and 5) neither religious nor cultural barriers were problematic if similarly treated. Conclusion: These findings could foster more efficient management of the victim identification responses in other large-scale disasters.