A scoping review of the impacts of COVID-19 physical distancing measures on vulnerable population groups.
Nat Commun
; 14(1): 599, 2023 02 03.
Article
in English
| MEDLINE | ID: covidwho-2242661
ABSTRACT
Most governments have enacted physical or social distancing measures to control COVID-19 transmission. Yet little is known about the socio-economic trade-offs of these measures, especially for vulnerable populations, who are exposed to increased risks and are susceptible to adverse health outcomes. To examine the impacts of physical distancing measures on the most vulnerable in society, this scoping review screened 39,816 records and synthesised results from 265 studies worldwide documenting the negative impacts of physical distancing on older people, children/students, low-income populations, migrant workers, people in prison, people with disabilities, sex workers, victims of domestic violence, refugees, ethnic minorities, and people from sexual and gender minorities. We show that prolonged loneliness, mental distress, unemployment, income loss, food insecurity, widened inequality and disruption of access to social support and health services were unintended consequences of physical distancing that impacted these vulnerable groups and highlight that physical distancing measures exacerbated the vulnerabilities of different vulnerable populations.
Full text:
Available
Collection:
International databases
Database:
MEDLINE
Main subject:
Sexual and Gender Minorities
/
COVID-19
Type of study:
Experimental Studies
/
Observational study
/
Prognostic study
/
Randomized controlled trials
/
Reviews
Limits:
Aged
/
Child
/
Humans
Language:
English
Journal:
Nat Commun
Journal subject:
Biology
/
Science
Year:
2023
Document Type:
Article
Affiliation country:
S41467-023-36267-9
Similar
MEDLINE
...
LILACS
LIS