Social work interventions for water insecurity: a scoping review protocol

Background
Water insecurity affects over 2.2 billion people globally and is projected to impact up to
2.4 billion additional people by 2050 due to climate change. While central to WASH
frameworks in global health, its psychosocial dimensions, such as mental health,
gender-based violence, displacement, and livelihood loss, remain underexamined in
social work. Despite growing evidence, social work’s engagement with water security is
limited and poorly defined. This review will synthesize existing literature to assess
current practice and identify gaps in knowledge and intervention.

Methods
This scoping review will follow the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMAScR guidelines.
We will search seven electronic databases (MEDLINE, PsycINFO,
Social Work Abstracts, CINAHL, Scopus, Web of Science, GreenFILE) from 2000 to
present, along with targeted grey literature searches. The 2000 start date aligns with
the UN Millennium Development Goals and IPCC Third Assessment Report. Two
independent reviewers will screen all titles, abstracts, and full texts using predefined
inclusion criteria. Data will be extracted using a standardized form and analysed using
descriptive numerical analysis and qualitative thematic synthesis.

Discussion
This review will provide the first comprehensive mapping of social work interventions
addressing water insecurity globally, informing evidence-based practice guidelines,
curriculum development, policy integration, and research priorities. Findings will be
directly relevant to achieving SDG 6 targets on universal water access.

Registration: Open Science Framework (OSF) registration DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/GKSFZ