Impact of the 2008 economic and financial crisis on child health: a systematic review.

Luis Rajmil,Hein Raat,Louise Séguin,Anders Hjern,David Taylor-Robinson,Nick Spencer,Imti Choonara,Patricia Lucas,María-José De Sanmamed,Tomas Faresjö,International Network ,Anita Kozyrskyj

doi:10.3390/ijerph110606528

Abstract

The aim of this study was to provide an overview of studies in which the impact of the 2008 economic crisis on child health was reported. Structured searches of PubMed, and ISI Web of Knowledge, were conducted. Quantitative and qualitative studies reporting health outcomes on children, published since 2007 and related to the 2008 economic crisis were included. Two reviewers independently assessed studies for inclusion. Data were synthesised as a narrative review. Five hundred and six titles and abstracts were reviewed, from which 22 studies were included. The risk of bias for quantitative studies was mixed while qualitative studies showed low risk of bias. An excess of 28,000–50,000 infant deaths in 2009 was estimated in sub-Saharan African countries, and increased infant mortality in Greece was reported. Increased price of foods was related to worsening nutrition habits in disadvantaged families worldwide. An increase in violence against children was reported in the U.S., and inequalities in health-related quality of life appeared in some countries. Most studies suggest that the economic crisis has harmed children’s health, and disproportionately affected the most vulnerable groups. There is an urgent need for further studies to monitor the child health effects of the global recession and to inform appropriate public policy responses.

Highlights

The current global economic and financial crisis, which began at the end of 2007 in the U.S, poses a major threat to health and affects mainly Europe and several other countries [1].Economic downturns are known to affect health and living conditions of the populations
Both quantitative and qualitative studies were included, where they considered the impact of the current economic crisis on child health
One modelling study estimated a negative impact on infant and child mortality in sub-Saharan countries; and in Greece such impact on mortality was shown by using registered data in another study

Summary

Introduction

The current global economic and financial crisis, which began at the end of 2007 in the U.S, poses a major threat to health and affects mainly Europe and several other countries [1]. Economic downturns are known to affect health and living conditions of the populations. There is a large body of work on recession and health, most of it in adults. There are both positive (i.e., road traffic accidents go down) and negative effects (i.e., suicides generally go up) documented [3]. Children are a vulnerable population group and strong evidence exists on the link between socioeconomic living conditions and child health [4]

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