Public management in the Covid-19 pandemic

Safeguarding the rights and well-being of vulnerable groups

Dados Bibliográficos

ID17832809
AutoresDanyang Lyu (Zhejiang University, autor correspondente), Junxing Wang (0000-0002-4381-1634, Zhejiang University), Yuanke Lang
Ano2026
Volume13
Fascículo1
Data de publicação2026-03-06
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoHumanities and Social Sciences Communications (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 2662-9992 • E-ISSN: 2662-9992
EditoraPalgrave Macmillan (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1057/s41599-026-06635-z
OpenAlexW7134047956
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas52

The COVID-19 pandemic has not only overwhelmed public health systems but also exacerbated social inequalities. While existing research has documented various forms of inequalities exposed by the crisis, there remains a lack of a comprehensive account of the broad plights faced by vulnerable groups. Moreover, few studies have systematically examined the practices that promote their rights and well-being through a public management lens. This study adopts a scoping review methodology guided by the PRISMA-ScR framework, analyzing 429 high-quality publications (2020–2025) to address this gap. The results reveal a three-phase evolution of research on the topic: problem identification, mechanism investigation, and a future-oriented focus. Key themes center on inequalities and plights across health, economy, education, and social participation. Notably, research output remains geographically imbalanced—regions most affected by COVID-19 are the most studied rather than the most active in contributing research. Our analysis underscores the intersecting nature of plights faced by vulnerable groups and compares cross-national experiences in safeguarding their rights and well-being. We conclude by proposing a more integrated theoretical framework for understanding vulnerability and identifying strategies to enhance public-sector efforts in protecting vulnerable groups during crises

Human rights · Inequality · Pandemic · Public health · Safeguarding · Social justice · COVID-19 and Mental Health · COVID-19 Digital Contact Tracing · Public Health Policies and Education