Evidence Aid Bulletin: 9 July 2024
Welcome to Evidence Aid’s July bulletin.
This month, we focus on a significant and frequently overlooked issue: the impact of natural disasters, particularly windstorms and earthquakes. These events are becoming increasingly common, intensified by climate change, and causing widespread devastation worldwide. Unfortunately, their growing intensity, prevalence, and lack of preparation leave many countries and communities vulnerable to their destruction. The aftermath of these disasters is multifaceted and more complex than at first glance, requiring preparation, commitment and support from various groups to help deal with the fallout. To better understand this complexity, this month’s bulletin provides insights into the various types of support required during disasters. Topics include sexual and reproductive health, child abuse during natural hazards, and the loss of health aids and medications during emergencies.
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Sexual and reproductive health interventions during humanitarian crises
In this systematic review, the authors explored research around the impact of interventions related to sexual and reproductive health (SRH) during humanitarian crises. They discovered that SRH outcomes improve through various interventions, including visits to the home and peer-led education, counseling, training for lower-level healthcare workers, involvement of community health workers (CHWs), inclusion of HIV and SRH services, and discussion groups for men to address intimate partner violence. Despite the increased research attention on this topic, progress in terms of effective interventions has been limited. Further research is needed to explore SRH interventions during various humanitarian crises and more SRH contexts, including for LGBTQ individuals, in relation to abortions, genital injuries, and the management of rape and gender-based violence.
Citation: Singh NS, Smith J, Aryasinghe S, et al. Evaluating the effectiveness of sexual and reproductive health services during humanitarian crises: a systematic review. PloS ONE. 2018;13(7):e0199300.
Read the full summary in our Windstorms, Earthquakes, Refugee or Resilient Health Systems collections.
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Child abuse in conflicts and disasters caused by natural hazards
In this systematic review, the authors investigated violence experienced by children aged 18 and under following disasters caused by natural hazards or conflicts. They found that during crises, children were abused by parents or relatives and influenced by circumstances such as substance abuse, child labor, and violence exposure. Sexual violence was most prevalent after conflicts, especially against girls and in situations requiring emergency housing, while boys faced more physical violence. To prevent violence against children during emergencies, policies around emergency relief standards need to be strengthened. Additionally, emergency response workers should prioritize child protection and focus on families with low socioeconomic status. The authors also highlighted gaps in knowledge about this topic in relation to race, religion, physical abilities, and other factors, which should be further explored.
Citation: Seddighi H, Salmani I, Javadi MH, et al. Child abuse in natural disasters and conflicts: a systematic review. Trauma, Violence, & Abuse. 2021;22(1):176–85.
Read the full summary in our Windstorms or Earthquakes collections.
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Loss of medications and health aids after disasters or evacuation
The authors of this systematic review looked into medication and medical aids loss after disasters and disaster evacuation. They discovered that a large number of individuals lost their medication, along with essential medical devices such as prescription glasses, dentures, hearing aids, and mobility aids. These findings highlight the necessity of maintaining up-to-date medical records and stockpiling medications in emergency preparedness plans. Furthermore, the authors emphasized the importance of educating patients about storing extra medications in multiple locations beyond their homes (e.g., school, workplace).
Citation: Ochi S, Hodgson S, Landeg O, et al. Disaster-driven evacuation and medication loss: a systematic literature review. PLoS Currents Disasters. 2014 July 18;1:1-29.
Read the full summary in our Windstorms or Earthquakes collections.
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Thank you for making it to the end of this month’s bulletin!
We hope that our evidence-based perspectives help you better understand and reflect on important issues that impact our global community. Furthermore, we hope our summaries serve as valuable tools to better utilize research that contributes to improving our world. For a deeper look into our resources and further insights, explore our various collections here.
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From,
Your Evidence Aid team