Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19-associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study

A new joint global study led by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and published in the Lancet reveals that during the first 14 months of the COVID-19 pandemic, at least 1.5 million children lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or other caregiver due to COVID-19. The magnitude of caregiver loss during the COVID-19 pandemic shows an urgent need for ensuring equitable global access to vaccines, supporting family-based care for children, and using evidence-based interventions such as those highlighted in INSPIRE: seven strategies for ending violence against children to reduce the increased risk of vulnerability to abuse, neglect and other forms of violence in children who have lost parents or caregivers.

Access the Lancet publication at: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01253-8/fulltext

For an expanded report with additional resources for estimating the country-specific magnitude of COVID-19 parent and caregiver loss click here 

Get the INSPIRE: Seven strategies for ending violence against children technical package