It is estimated that about 1.5 million children worldwide have experienced the loss of someone who cared for them, like a parent, grandparent or caregiver, a new study found.
For the first time, a study has estimated the global impact of COVID-19 on children who experienced the death of a family member, such as a parent or grandparent, or a caregiver. The study found that as many 1.5 million children have lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or other relative who cared for them, because of COVID-19.
The study, published in The Lancet this week, used a modelling approach based on data from COVID-19 deaths occurring between 1 March 2020 and 30 April 2021 across 21 countries. The study also used fertility data for males and females from those 21 countries, and data from the United Nations Household Size and Composition, to estimate the number of children who had lost a parent or grandparent to COVID-19. Mathematical modelling was used to extrapolate their findings globally, using country-level data on COVID-19 deaths and fertility rates.
Some of the countries most affected, according to the study were Peru, South Africa, Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Iran, the USA, Argentina and Russia. In India, for example, researchers estimated an 8.5-fold increase in the numbers of newly orphaned children, compared to before the pandemic.
The study was led by Dr Susan Hillis, from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention COVID-19 Response Team.
About the findings
Among the affected children, the study estimated that more than 1 million have lost one or both parents during the first 14 months of the pandemic. About half million children are estimated to have experienced the death of a grandparent who acted as caregiver.
“For every two COVID-19 deaths worldwide, one child is left behind to face the death of a parent or caregiver. By April 30, 2021, these 1.5 million children had become the tragic overlooked consequence of the 3 million COVID-19 deaths worldwide, and this number will only increase as the pandemic progresses,” Dr Hillis said in a press release.
Children affected by the death of a parent or caregiver at a higher risk of family separation or being placed in an orphanage or foster care homes, with potentially negative social, physical, and mental health consequences.
“Out of control COVID-19 epidemics abruptly and permanently alter the lives of the children who are left behind. Tomorrow is too late for the child institutionalized in an orphanage, who will grow up profoundly damaged by the experience. We urgently need to identify the children behind these numbers and strengthen monitoring systems, so that every child can be given the support they need to thrive,” said Dr Seth Flaxman, one of the study’s lead authors, from Imperial College London, UK.
Despite the large figure, the authors say that their estimated are likely an underestimation of the real number of children affected.
“Our study establishes minimum estimates—lower bounds—for the numbers of children who lost parents and /or grandparents. Tragically, many demographic, epidemiological, and healthcare factors suggest that the true numbers affected could be orders of magnitude larger,” said Dr Juliette Unwin, also a lead author of the study from Imperial College London.
“In the months ahead variants and the slow pace of vaccination globally threaten to accelerate the pandemic, even in already incredibly hard-hit countries, resulting in millions more children experiencing orphanhood,” she added.