Identifying the Causes of Vulnerability and Assessing the Needs of Disabled People Before, during and After Flood and Earthquake: Thematic Scoping Review

Abstract

Background: People with disabilities are more vulnerable to accidents and disasters than the general population, and the assistance they receive is often inadequate. This scoping review aims to identify the factors contributing to their vulnerability and assess the needs of people with disabilities through synthesizing thematic method. This study discusses common disasters, such as floods and earthquakes, which are likely to occur in various regions. Materials and Methods: For this purpose, all the articles with the determined keywords were collected from databases: PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Persian databases (sid.ir, magiran). After removing the duplicate records, 360 articles remained. The articles were initially reviewed based on their title and abstract, and then the full text of the remaining articles was reviewed. Ultimately, 15 studies entered analysis. Results: The findings revealed that the vulnerability of people with disabilities is primarily due to a lack of awareness and preparedness regarding the necessary measures and precautions to be taken during accidents and emergencies. The absence of specific policies and programs for their unique needs is also notable. Conclusion: Enhancing awareness and implementing preparedness drills can be the most effective strategies to reduce the vulnerability of this population. © 2025, Bushehr University of Medical Sciences.All rights reserved.