The New Methods of Help Seeking During Disasters and Crises in Vulnerable Groups (Children, Women, Disabled People, Elderly, Blind and Deaf): A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVES

To examine innovative methods of seeking assistance during disasters and crises in vulnerable groups through a systematic review approach.

METHODS

This study is a systematic review. The necessary data were obtained using relevant keywords from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Embase, ProQuest databases, and the Google Scholar search engine. The study was conducted without any time limitations and using the PRISMA protocol. The CASP tool was used for assessing the quality of the articles.

RESULTS

Of 6002 initial articles, 11 final articles were selected and included in the study. Most of the studies were from Australia, and the most frequently examined vulnerable groups were disabled people and people who are deaf or hard of hearing. The basis for the methods and tools used in seeking assistance and managing disasters was the disaster risk reduction programs in communities, which utilized information systems, educational frameworks, communication platforms, and media tools to achieve the goals, considering specific environmental and cultural conditions.

CONCLUSIONS

Given the emergency nature of disasters, government commitment and support should be based on the allocation of special resources and the active participation of vulnerable individuals.