From March 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021, COVID-19-associated orphanhood estimated for more than 2 million 10- to 17-year-olds<\/p>\n<\/h3>\n
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FRIDAY, Feb. 25, 2022 (HealthDay News) — From April 30 to Oct. 31, 2021, there was a 90.0 percent increase in the number of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death compared with the number during March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021, according to a study published online Feb. 24 in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health<\/em>.<\/p>\n H. Juliette T. Unwin, Ph.D., from Imperial College London, and colleagues modeled the increases in the numbers of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood (defined as death of one or both parents) and caregiver death using updated excess mortality and fertility data to include the new period of May 1 to Oct. 31, 2021, following the original study period of March 1, 2020, to April 30, 2021.<\/p>\n The researchers found that from April 30 to Oct. 31, 2021, there was an estimated 90.0 percent increase in the number of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and caregiver death (from 2,737,300 to 5,200,300). From March 1, 2020, to Oct. 31, 2021, COVID-19-associated orphanhood was estimated for 491,300 children aged 0 to 4 years, 736,800 children aged 5 to 9 years, and 2,146,700 children aged 10 to 17 years. Globally, 76.5 and 23.5 percent of children experiencing the loss of a caregiver were paternal and maternal orphans, respectively. The prevalence of paternal orphanhood exceeded that of maternal orphanhood in each age group and region.<\/p>\n “Support for orphaned children must be immediately integrated into every national COVID-19 response plan,” a coauthor said in a statement.<\/strong><\/p>\n Abstract\/Full Text<\/a><\/p>\n