Compilation of Resilience Indicators for the Impact of Disasters Triggered by Natural Hazards on Public Health

Abstract Inherent to disasters is destruction and disruption within the impacted communities, especially in the context of public health. The lack of attention to diverse factors in understanding the health repercussions of disasters induced by natural hazards hinders the ability to grasp the full extent of these consequences. Thus, a thorough examination of public health indicators is essential for a nuanced understanding, enabling tailored interventions and proactive measures to address the specific needs and vulnerabilities of disaster-affected populations. Hence, this study conducts a systematic literature review to identify indicators that gauge a community’s resilience to the health-related consequences of disasters triggered by natural hazards. Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement, 60 published articles were obtained as candidates for the review, yielding 42 unique indicators through content analysis. From these indicators, 12 overarching themes were extracted using an established framework from a prior study. Examining these indicators in relation to the themes revealed specific associations, highlighting crucial connections and emphasizing their importance in the context of the themes. The findings of this review could facilitate a more nuanced approach to the different dimensions of disaster-related health impacts, support the formulation of proactive strategies to mitigate risks, and guide the efficient allocation of resources to areas with the most urgent needs. The identified themes and their corresponding indicators may be applied in hotspot identification, benchmarking best practices, and informing the development of analytical models to assess the overall health resilience of communities to disaster-related impacts. Some limitations of the findings are likewise discussed.