Economic inequality puts the health of minors at risk, according to a study

A group of experts warns that the increase in economic inequalities in the world causes disparities in Health of children and adolescents, which puts at risk the objectives set to reduce mortality in 2030.

During 2019, there were 8.6 million deaths under the age of 20 -including stillbirths-, according to a series of studies published this Wednesday in The Lancet.

The authors emphasize that the quality of life of this age group depends to a large extent on their socioeconomic situation, since those who suffer early poverty are twice as likely to have poor health later than the richest.

In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has accentuated inequalities and threatens to reverse the gains made in recent years to improve the health of mothers, children and adolescents, as foreseen by the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Experts point out that this series of articles collected by The Lancet provide “abundant scientific evidence” to promote “a holistic agenda” among this large group, offering “Comprehensive social and health support from before conception to the age of 20”.

In this sense, they ask the “global leaders” that they substitute “Current Approaches”because they are often “fragmented by age groups or specific health conditions”.

In contrast, a comprehensive health system must cover issues related to nutrition, prevention, education, economics and community support, from even before pregnancy to 20 years of age.

“The challenges we face in responding to the needs of children and families during the covid-19 pandemic should serve as a wake-up call for the global community, as they underscore the urgent need to transform the child and adolescent health agenda to global scale”explains in a statement the coordinator of this work, Zulfiqar Bhutta.

Experts recall that the probability of mortality in the first five years of life is a widely used indicator to measure human capital and the progress made by a country, but they point out that it only offers a limited view of the health and development of minors. .

Therefore, they prefer to consider here the conditions of survival, growth, disability and education in different regions of the world, as well as their effects on crucial stages of life from the third trimester of pregnancy to 20 years of age.

Within this range, official figures confirm that 8.6 million deaths were registered in 2019, of which 1.9 million correspond to fetal deaths (23%) and 2.4 million were neonatal deaths (28%).

Of that total, 32% includes deaths of children between one month and five years of age (2.75 million), followed by 6% between five and nine years old, 4% between 10 and 14 years old, and 7% between 15 and 19 years old.

“By examining mortality and nutrition from the third trimester of pregnancy to age 20, we can learn more about child and adolescent health. Our analysis clearly indicates that the first two years of life are crucial indicators of future health.”says Robert Black, one of the authors.