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Lockdown-Related Disparities Experienced by People with Disabilities during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review with Thematic Analysis

Author

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  • Tiago S. Jesus

    (Global Health and Tropical Medicine (GHTM) & WHO Collaborating Centre for Health Workforce Policy and Planning, Institute of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, NOVA University of Lisbon, 1349-008 Lisbon, Portugal
    Department of Occupational Therapy, College of Health & Rehabilitation Sciences: Sargent College, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA)

  • Sutanuka Bhattacharjya

    (Department of Occupational Therapy, Byrdine F. Lewis College of Nursing and Health Professions, Georgia State University, Atlanta, GA 30303, USA)

  • Christina Papadimitriou

    (Departments of Interdisciplinary Health Sciences, and Sociology, School of Health Sciences, Oakland University, Rochester, MI 48309-4452, USA)

  • Yelena Bogdanova

    (Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Service, Veterans Affairs Boston Healthcare System, Boston, MA 02130, USA
    Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, Boston University, Boston, MA 02130, USA)

  • Jacob Bentley

    (Department of Clinical Psychology, Seattle Pacific University, Seattle, WA 98119, USA
    Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, School of Medicine, John Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD 21205-2196, USA)

  • Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

    (IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, 48009 Bilbao, Spain
    Biocruces Bizkaia Health Research Institute, 48903 Barakaldo, Spain
    Department of Cell Biology and Histology, University of the Basque Country UPV/EHU, 48940 Leioa, Spain)

  • Sureshkumar Kamalakannan

    (Public Health Foundation of India (PHFI), South Asia Centre for Disability Inclusive Development and Research (SACDIR), Indian Institute of Public Health, Hyderabad 500033, India)

  • The Refugee Empowerment Task Force, International Networking Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine

    (Membership of the Refugee Empowerment Task Force, International Networking Group of the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine is provided in the Author Contributions.)

Abstract

People with disabilities may be disproportionally affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. We synthesize the literature on broader health and social impacts on people with disabilities arising from lockdown-related measures. Methods: Scoping review with thematic analysis. Up to mid-September 2020, seven scientific databases and three pre-print servers were searched to identify empirical or perspective papers addressing lockdown-related disparities experienced by people with disabilities. Snowballing searches and experts’ consultation also occurred. Two independent reviewers took eligibility decisions and performed data extractions. Results: Out of 1026 unique references, 85 addressed lockdown-related disparities experienced by people with disabilities. Ten primary and two central themes were identified: (1) Disrupted access to healthcare (other than for COVID-19); (2) Reduced physical activity leading to health and functional decline; (3) From physical distance and inactivity to social isolation and loneliness; (4) Disruption of personal assistance and community support networks; (5) Children with disabilities disproportionally affected by school closures; (6) Psychological consequences of disrupted routines, activities, and support; (7) Family and informal caregiver burden and stress; (8) Risks of maltreatment, violence, and self-harm; (9) Reduced employment and/or income exacerbating disparities; and (10) Digital divide in access to health, education, and support services. Lack of disability-inclusive response and emergency preparedness and structural, pre-pandemic disparities were the central themes. Conclusions: Lockdown-related measures to contain the COVID-19 pandemic can disproportionally affect people with disabilities with broader impact on their health and social grounds. Lack of disability-inclusive response and emergency preparedness and pre-pandemic disparities created structural disadvantages, exacerbated during the pandemic. Both structural disparities and their pandemic ramifications require the development and implementation of disability-inclusive public health and policy measures.

Suggested Citation

  • Tiago S. Jesus & Sutanuka Bhattacharjya & Christina Papadimitriou & Yelena Bogdanova & Jacob Bentley & Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla & Sureshkumar Kamalakannan & The Refugee Empowerment Task Force, Int, 2021. "Lockdown-Related Disparities Experienced by People with Disabilities during the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Scoping Review with Thematic Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-24, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:12:p:6178-:d:570656
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Evamdrou, Maria & Falkingham, Jane & Qin, Min & Vlachantoni, Athina, 2020. "Older and ‘staying at home’ during lockdown: informal care receipt during the COVID-19 pandemic amongst people aged 70 and over in the UK," SocArXiv 962dy, Center for Open Science.
    2. Amirhossein Takian & Mohammad Mehdi Kiani & Khatere Khanjankhani, 2020. "COVID-19 and the need to prioritize health equity and social determinants of health," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 65(5), pages 521-523, June.
    3. Lena Morgon Banks & Hannah Kuper & Sarah Polack, 2017. "Poverty and disability in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(12), pages 1-19, December.
    4. Elena Fernández-Díaz & Patricia P. Iglesias-Sánchez & Carmen Jambrino-Maldonado, 2020. "Exploring WHO Communication during the COVID 19 Pandemic through the WHO Website Based on W3C Guidelines: Accessible for All?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(16), pages 1-17, August.
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    1. Kang, Tarandeep S. & Goodwin, Robin, 2022. "Legal restrictions and mitigation strategies amongst a disabled population during COVID-19," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 305(C).
    2. Yashoda Sharma & Alison Whiting & Tilak Dutta, 2022. "A Survey of the Challenges Faced by Individuals with Disabilities and Unpaid Caregivers during the COVID-19 Pandemic," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-17, August.
    3. Mónica Rojas-Chaves & Manuel Lucas-Matheu & Gracia Castro-Luna & Tesifón Parrón-Carreño & Bruno José Nievas-Soriano, 2022. "Validation of a Scale on Society’s Attitudes towards the Sexuality of Women with Intellectual Disabilities—Survey Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-10, October.
    4. Cassandra Herman & Delphine Labbé & Chelsea Elder, 2025. "We’re Moving Online: Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Support Adaptive Leisure Time Physical Activity in the Virtual Environment," Disabilities, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-14, March.
    5. Amaya Perez-Brumer & Rebecca Balasa & Aarti Doshi & Jessica Brogdon & Thuy Doan & Catherine E. Oldenburg, 2022. "COVID-19 Related Shifts in Social Interaction, Connection, and Cohesion Impact Psychosocial Health: Longitudinal Qualitative Findings from COVID-19 Treatment Trial Engaged Participants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    6. Sureshkumar Kamalakannan & Sutanuka Bhattacharjya & Yelena Bogdanova & Christina Papadimitriou & Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla & Jacob Bentley & Tiago S. Jesus & Refugee Empowerment Task Force, Interna, 2021. "Health Risks and Consequences of a COVID-19 Infection for People with Disabilities: Scoping Review and Descriptive Thematic Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-17, April.
    7. Naomi Hlongwane & Lieketseng Ned & Emma McKinney & Vic McKinney & Leslie Swartz, 2022. "Experiences of Organisations of (or That Serve) Persons with Disabilities during the COVID-19 Pandemic and National Lockdown Period in South Africa," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-16, October.

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