Sociodemographic and health vulnerabilities associated with disaster exposure: insights from ECHO cohort

Disasters disproportionately impact women, particularly those of childbearing age, by exacerbating existing health disparities and disrupting access to essential healthcare services. This cross-sectional study examines the sociodemographic and health vulnerabilities associated with disaster exposure among women using harmonized data from U.S.-based cohorts in the Environmental influences on Child Health Outcomes (ECHO) dataset. A total of 3,142 women were included, with 17.6% reporting lifetime disaster exposure. Sociodemographic differences were observed, with disaster-exposed women being older, more likely to be married or cohabiting, and having higher educational attainment compared to non-exposed women. Health disparities were evident, with disaster exposure associated with higher rates of diabetes, hypertension, and depression. The frequency of disaster exposure further exacerbated these vulnerabilities, with women exposed to multiple disasters exhibiting the highest prevalence of chronic conditions and mental health challenges. Notably, disparities in disaster exposure were observed across racial and ethnic groups, with White women being overrepresented among disaster-exposed individuals, while Hispanic women were underrepresented. These findings highlight the need for targeted disaster preparedness and response efforts that address the cumulative health burden of repeated disaster exposure. The study underscores the importance of integrating disaster exposure into maternal health policies and interventions to mitigate long-term health consequences for vulnerable populations. Future research should incorporate longitudinal designs to assess causal pathways and develop resilience-building strategies for at-risk groups.