Women’s health-related vulnerabilities in natural disasters: a systematic review protocol

Abstract

IntroductionThere is a paucity of evidence identifying both the physical and psychological health risks and underlying causes of women’s health-related vulnerabilities related to natural disasters. Therefore, this systematic review will be conducted to determine the impact of natural disasters on women’s health from a global perspective.Methods and analysisFive electronic databases of health research, including ProQuest, ProQuest Health and Medicine, PubMed, PsycINFO and CINAHL, will be searched to retrieve relevant literature where Medical Subject Headings terms and keywords will be used depending on the search method of each database. Google Scholar will also be searched for preliminary information on the topic and to check for further evidence that may have been missed. Inclusion and exclusion criteria will be developed and refined by the research team. We will restrict our search for empirical full-text articles published in the English language peer-reviewed journals between July 2008 and June 2018 to ensure contemporary evidence is retrieved. Two authors will participate in each step in the process, including title, abstract and full-text screening against inclusion criteria, data extraction and quality appraisal. The quality of selected studies will be assessed using the Mixed Method Appraisal Tool. Data synthesis will follow a sequential explanatory approach. Finally, the quantitative and qualitative findings will be merged under themes and described using a narrative approach.Ethics and disseminationFormal ethical approval is not required as primary data will not be collected. The results will be published in an international peer-reviewed journal and presented at national and international conferences.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42019123809.

Psychological impact of COVID‐19 quarantine measures in northeastern Italy on mothers in the immediate postpartum period

“…Several studies have documented maternal psycho‐emotional vulnerability during catastrophic events 4 . Trauma, terrorist attack, and natural and man‐made disasters (e.g.…”

“…Trauma, terrorist attack, and natural and man‐made disasters (e.g. earthquakes, tsunamis, and Chernobyl) were predictors of postpartum depression symptoms for mothers in the general population 4–6 . After the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in 2003, both healthcare workers and people who were self‐quarantined exhibited symptoms of post‐traumatic stress disorder 7 .…”

Prenatal Stress and Psychiatric Symptoms During Early Phases of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Italy

“…11 Indeed, several studies have detected an uptick in levels of anxiety and depression in expectant women during the COVID-19 outbreak; [12][13][14] these results are in line with previous studies of mothers-to -be during natural disasters. 15 Also, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, which are more common during pregnancy as oppose to other time periods 11 are likely to be more prevalent during the COVID-19 pandemic because of infection fears and public health measures emphasizing protective behaviours such as handwashing. 16 Stress-related to the pandemic co-occurs with pregnancy-specific stress (PSS), which derives from worries about physical symptoms, bodily changes, and concerns about the baby.…”

Exploring the Impact of Restricted Partners’ Visiting Policies on Non-Infected Mothers’ Mental Health and Breastfeeding Rates during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Maternal psycho-emotional vulnerability during catastrophic events is already well known [ 22 ]. Healthcare providers worldwide have been advocating a “call to action” to limit the impact of the restrictions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic [ 23 , 24 ] on women’s perinatal medical care, focusing on psychological aspects in particular.…”