User:Arahman007/Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children

Below is what I plan to add to the article Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on children will talking about mental health adding to the Health and Development section for the article :

Mental health during the lock downs of COVID-19 is a serous concern for countries around the world and this is due to many stay at home orders, as well as schools closing, and even just children not being able to socialize. Action is needed to offset the risk for educational losses among all children as well as exacerbated educational disparities among children in poverty. Unforeseen extended school closures can lead to lower test scores, lower educational attainment, and decreased earning potential. School closure also means loss of critical resources for children with disabilities, including engagement with specialized educators and structured learning environments. Parents of children with high learning needs are unlikely to be equipped with resources to maintain remote learning. Due to the nature of the economy as well as children not being equipped with the knowledge to understand the nature of the pandemic there is a need to address the physical and mental health effects of the COVID-19 crisis among children and offset the potential for widening health disparities among those in poverty. Children now face diminished access to health care because of loss of school-based services, increasing parental unemployment, loss of health insurance, and avoidance of health care settings.

Children are at risk not only of infection, but also of losing or being separated from family members and caregivers. Mothers and children are affected by the disruption of essential preventative and curative support and supplies resulting from suspensions in services and transportation systems, as well as by financial constraints. Constrained access to clinics, schools, social workers, water, and sanitation is a particular threat to the most vulnerable populations, and the lack of child protection and broader social services is particularly harmful to women and children in need of safety.

Children in general around the world are not going to or are not using the health care services around the world and a lot of countries have noticed a decrease in visits. Pandemic-related service closures, warnings and public health measures have led to substantially reduced use of health care services by children, young people and families. In the United Kingdom, Ireland, and Italy, routinely collected admissions data show decreases of up to 75% in pediatric emergency department attendances and admissions during lockdown compared with the same period in previous years. The Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto reported a reduction in pediatric emergency department visits by 30% in March and 62% in April 2020 compared with 2019.

In young children and adolescents the pandemic and lockdown have a greater impact on emotional and social development compared to that in the grown-ups. In one of the preliminary studies during the on-going pandemic, it was found younger children (3-6years old) were more likely to manifest symptoms of clinginess and the fear of family members being infected than older children (6-18 years old). Whereas, the older children were more likely to experience inattention and were persistently inquiring regarding COVID-19. When talking about school going children teenagers have negatively impacted over 91% of the world's student population. The home confinement of children and adolescents is associated with uncertainty and anxiety which is attributable to disruption in their education, physical activities and opportunities for socialization. Furthermore, Absence of structured setting of the school for a long duration result in disruption in routine, boredom and lack of innovative ideas for engaging in various academic and extracurricular activities. Some children have expressed lower levels of affect for not being able to play outdoors, not meeting friends and not engaging in the in-person school activities.

Talking specifically about the conditions of Children at home in Canada. Canada entered the COVID-19 pandemic without resilient conditions for childhood. According to UNICEF Canada:


 * 1 in 5 children and youth live in poverty
 * 1 in 10 Canadians lack internet connectivity to sustain social connections and schooling – fewer children have access in homes where connection has to be shared with other members
 * 1 in 4 go to bed or went to school hungry because there isn’t enough food at home
 * 1 in 4 experience abuse at home
 * 1 in 4 have symptoms of depression
 * 1 in 3 lack basic proficiency in reading and math at age 15