Coping with Disasters While Living in Poverty: A Systematic Review

ABSTRACT

This review synthesizes the literature on how Asia-Pacific children and families living in poverty cope with disasters. A systematic search yielded 26 studies from six low- and middle-income countries (LMIC) in the region. Findings emphasized the role of socioeconomic factors, sociocultural factors, and indigenous knowledge. Coping strategies related to finances were most prominently described in the studies, in contrast to health and psychosocial strategies. Substantial gender issues were identified. The review highlights gaps regarding child involvement in research and coping strategies used by children living in poverty.

KEYWORDS:

• Children
• families
• LMIC
• South Asia

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the Journal of Loss and Trauma for the opportunity to publish this article.

Additional information

Funding

Ms. Krishna is supported by Monash University International Postgraduate Research Scholarship. Dr. Alisic is supported by the Australian National Health and Medical Research Council (Early Career Fellowship 1090229). Both Dr. Alisic and Dr. Ronan are supported by Australia’s Bushfire and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre.

Notes on contributors

Revathi N. Krishna

Revathi N. Krishna is a PhD candidate at Monash University Accident Research Centre (MUARC), Monash University. Her PhD research focuses on developing an education-based Disaster Risk Reduction intervention for children through active participation of children in flood-affected communities in Chennai, India.

Saadia Majeed

Dr. Saadia Majeed is a research fellow in Disaster Risk Management, Monash University Disaster Resilience Initiative at Monash University Accident Research Centre. She is also a research scholar affiliated with the International Social Science Council (ISSC) and Integrated Research on Disaster Risk (IRDR) Young Scientists Program. Currently, she is working on developing an integrated governance approach to disaster risk management, which will be especially applicable in developing countries, but which will have a potential for wider application in other disaster-prone regions.

Kevin Ronan

Prof. Kevin Ronan is a professorial research fellow in Clinical Psychology, School of Health, Medical and Applied Sciences at CQ University Australia. He is also chair of the Disaster Reference Group of the Australian Psychological Society.

Eva Alisic

Dr. Eva Alisic leads the Trauma Recovery Lab at Monash University Accident Research Centre. She studies how children, young people, and families cope with traumatic experiences such as war and disaster, and how professionals can support them.