Who is most at risk?

This pandemic’s scale notwithstanding, given the estimates of CYP exposed to some form of neglect and violence, the magnitude of vulnerable CYP globally could be well over one billion.6 Research shows us that the social determinants of health are clustered. The CYP within these clusters and in need of enhanced attention include the following.

• Socially/economically disadvantaged CYP and families—children living in poverty, particularly street and working children, those living in poor and overcrowded housing.

• Aboriginal/First Nations/indigenous CYP.

• Refugee, migrant and displaced CYP and those affected by conflict.

• CYP at risk of violence and exploitation including those not yet in the protective system.

• Orphaned and abandoned CYP and those socially isolated.

• CYP with a disability, or long-term health conditions; with behavioural/mental health difficulties.

• CYP in residential care, alternative care, detention and in conflict with the law.

• CYP impacted by gender discrimination, including specific discrimination against the girl child.

What are the direct and indirect health and social consequences for CYP?

While children generally have less severe clinical manifestations from COVID-19 than adults, certain groups are more vulnerable including young children, and those with respiratory conditions, immunodeficiency, neurodevelopmental disability and obesity.3 Immediate public health responses are required to keep CYP safe during the pandemic, while maintaining vigilance on those with disability and chronic health conditions who may be more at risk of severe morbidity and even mortality. Underlying health inequities are pronounced during this pandemic.

The irony is public health measures aimed at preventing one disease can exclude and undo preventive efforts to intervene proactively in the lives of many vulnerable CYP globally. The indirect impacts and unintended consequences of pandemic responses are potentially most damaging. These include delayed acute presentations, foregone treatment for chronic health conditions and increased burden of mental health conditions. The consequences of death of a parent or carer from the disease can be devastating.

Public measures that severely restrict movement and threaten livelihoods, especially in low resource settings where most people work in informal sectors, impact severely on CYP. Thousands of children are being tipped into starvation. Physical and social distancing increase stressors within already fragile families, with potential for increased violence and child maltreatment, sedentary behaviours and screen time.

Many thousands of CYP with disabilities have had their interventions suspended; immunisation programmes have been threatened; CYP with chronic health conditions denied routine or preventive health services including screening; access to sexual and reproductive services are being compromised; and, many children at risk of serious maltreatment are no longer in our gaze due to reduced safety nets. While school and early childhood service closures can cause immeasurable damage to children’s well-being, education policies focused on online learning in the wake of COVID-19 have highlighted longstanding inequities with delays in learning most profound for the most deprived; the right to education and play are rights exclusive to children.

Welfare, social and family support services critical for vulnerable CYP may be suspended or provide only remote access. CYP may be further disadvantaged during the postpandemic recovery phase, with widening income inequalities and amplification of the digital divide, severely affecting family access to basic nutrition, shelter, information and education. Figure 1 illustrates how COVID-19 can drastically alter a child’s environment and negatively impact their well-being.

• Download figure
• Open in new tab
• Download powerpoint

Figure 1

Socio-ecological impact of COVID-19. Adapted from The Alliance for Child Protection in Humanitarian Action.8

What are we calling for?

Child rights-based responses afford us opportunities to advance policies and practices to mitigate the direct and indirect threats of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fulfilling children’s rights, as explicated in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC—see table 1),7 and framed by the Sustainable Development Goals, establishes the prerequisites for achieving optimal health and well-being (health equity) and addressing health disparities (social justice). The right to health is related to and dependent on the realisation of other rights. Building on global agencies’ advocacy,1 3–5 we recommend concerted national, regional and global efforts to respond to the following priorities for CYP (see table 2).

We need to privilege the rights of children, such that CYP are both seen and heard, responded to, protected from harms and health promoted, and provided opportunities to actively participate.1 We must refocus our gaze on the rights and needs of CYP, particularly those at risk. Proactive health and welfare are essential services—timely assessments and care, and interventions for ameliorating chronic conditions and disabilities must be maintained with continued delivery as safely as is possible. Of primary concern, are those groups affected by poverty, discrimination, or conflict, in which inequities are amplified both during the pandemic and recovery phase. Maintaining vigilance on those who are marginalised and stand to lose the most from this pandemic and in the post COVID-19 aftermath, is critical.