Study: More than 5 million kids have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19More than 5 million children have lost a parent or caregiver during the COVID-19 pandemic, according to a modeling study published yesterday in The Lancet Child & Adolescent Health.The study by an international team used updated excess mortality and fertility data to model increases in minimum estimates of COVID-19 orphanhood and caregiver deaths in 20 countries from Mar 1, 2020 to Oct 31, 2021.
Orphanhood was defined as the death of one or both parents, and caregiver death included parental death or death of a custodial or co-residing grandparent.
The team's original study had estimated that, from Mar 1, 2020, to Apr 30, 2021, 2,737,300 children had experienced a COVID death of a parent or caregiver.The updated estimate found that, from Apr 30 to Oct 31, 2021, the number of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood or caregiver death increased 90%, from 2,737,300 children to 5,200,300 children.
Over the entire 20-month period, 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 were estimated to have experienced COVID-19-associated orphanhood.