The experiences of victims in the mass gatherings: a phenomenological study

INTRODUCTION: The mass gathering events are becoming a big source of concern among public health practitioners. These events can affect a population’s health in different ways. The study aimed to identify mechanisms associated with morbidity and mortality in mass gathering (MGs) events. MATERIAL AND METHODS: This is a qualitative study that was conducted under a phenomenological approach. The study population included 21 people who were hospitalized due to injuries in the mass gatherings. Data collection was conducted through semi-structured and in-depth interviews. RESULTS: A total number of 21 interviews were conducted in this study. Participants included 17 males and four females. Thematic analysis was used to identify 21 different themes and the themes were classified into five main areas. These five areas include Individuals' unpreparedness, unprepared relief organizations, lack of proper response plans, and risky behavior and psychological reactions. CONCLUSIONS: The lived experiences of MGs victims showed that they need to be better educated at the community level about the potential MGs’ health risks. One of the most effective measures to reduce mortality in the MGs is risk governance. Risk governance must be a national policy and priority at the time of holding large gatherings