Developing-world disaster research: present evidence and future priorities.

Area of Science:

• Disaster medicine
• Global health
• Public health policy

Background:

• Developed world disaster solutions may not apply to developing countries.
• Global threats like pandemics and climate change necessitate informed policy decisions.
• High-quality scientific data is crucial for disaster preparedness and mitigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review the quality and quantity of disaster research from developing countries.
• To identify gaps in the peer-reviewed literature concerning disasters in the developing world.

Main Methods:

• PubMed search using MeSH terms: disasters, disaster medicine, rescue work, relief work, conflict, and developing country.
• Analysis of selected articles by type, evidence level, theme, author affiliation, and region.

Main Results:

• Less than 1% of disaster citations in PubMed focus on developing countries.
• Most articles were original research or reviews, with low evidence levels (IV or V).
• Fewer than 25% of authors were from developing nations; predominant themes were acute-phase humanitarian aid.

Conclusions:

• Despite causing 85% of disasters and 95% of deaths, the developing world is underrepresented in disaster literature.
• Publication bias or a lack of submissions may explain this disparity.
• Sustained disaster research funding and systematic research from developing countries are vital for future mitigation efforts.