COVID-19 orphanhood is a ‘hidden pandemic’

16 August 2021 | Story Niémah Davids. Photo Pexels. Read time 5 min.
Research estimates suggest that every 12 seconds, a child around the world loses a caregiver to COVID-19.
Research estimates suggest that every 12 seconds, a child around the world loses a caregiver to COVID-19.

“In summary, the research estimates suggest that every 12 seconds a child around the world loses a caregiver to COVID-19.”

This startling finding was presented in a research report titled “Global minimum estimates of children affected by COVID-19 associated orphanhood and deaths of caregivers: a modelling study”, published recently in The Lancet.

The study was conceptualised and produced by a multidisciplinary team of researchers at the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Accelerating Achievement for Africa’s Adolescent (Accelerate) Hub, in partnership with the University of Oxford. The Accelerate Hub is a unit located in UCT’s Centre for Social Science Research. It generates evidence on the value of development accelerators to inform multi‑sector partnerships to achieve the United Nations’ (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for adolescents on the African continent.

According to Professor Lucie Cluver (co‑author of the study), who is based between UCT and the University of Oxford, the objective of the project was to measure the impact the COVID‑19 pandemic has had on orphanhood globally. The World Health Organization, the World Bank and the United States Agency for International Development were co‑collaborators on the project.

 

“Our goal is to shine a bright light on this urgent and overlooked consequence that is harmful [to] children.”

Sadly, said Associate Professor Cluver, their results reveal that globally 1.5 million children have lost their primary caregivers to the virus. This tragic circumstance has been described as a ‘hidden pandemic’ and is expected to have long‑lasting and damaging implications.

The need‑to‑knows

To reach their findings, researchers used mathematical modelling and mortality and fertility data from 21 countries, including 76% of global COVID‑19‑related deaths, to estimate the number of children who had lost a caregiver. Some children lost one or both parents, while others lost grandparents and other primary caregivers.

“Our goal is to shine a bright light on this urgent and overlooked consequence that is harmful [to] children,” said Cluver.

Research findings indicate that because COVID‑19 can lead to death within weeks and sometimes days, families have very little time to prepare children for the trauma that comes with losing a parent. Long‑term, Cluver said, the effects are far‑reaching.

She cited mental health problems; physical, emotional and sexual violence; and family poverty as a few of the consequences children may need to contend with. In addition, the risk of suicide and promiscuous behaviour (which could lead to adolescent pregnancy and infectious diseases) is high.

“Due to the staggering findings, the researchers call for an urgent response that draws on and harnesses the power of development accelerators – defined as services, provisions or policies that will lead to progress across multiple UN SDGs, to improve outcomes for children with diseased caregivers across the world. Development accelerators such as cash transfers and parenting support have proved to be an effective response, as is seen [in] evidence [emerging] from South Africa,” she said. 

Harrowing reality

Researchers estimate that between 1 March 2020 and 30 April 2021, 1 562 000 children experienced the death of at least one primary or secondary caregiver, while 1 134 000 children lost a primary caregiver and at least one parent or custodial parent.

 

“The mathematical estimates suggest that every 12 seconds a child around the world loses a caregiver to the virus.”

“Considering custodial parents as primary caregivers is particularly important in the African context. Custodial grandparents often serve as guardians who care for their grandchildren [when their] parents have migrated to other countries for work, have died, or are separated from their children as a result of conflict or war,” said Cluver.

Painting a very harrowing picture, she said the number of children orphaned during the period under review exceeded the number of COVID‑19 related deaths in the 15 to 50‑year‑old category. The mathematical estimates suggest that every 12 seconds a child around the world loses a caregiver to the virus.

South Africa has recorded one of the highest numbers in the world for primary caregiver deaths, and on the continent the country is in the lead compared to its African counterparts. Essentially, Cluver said, one in every 200 South African children has lost a primary caregiver. Other countries with similar statistics include Peru, the United States, India, Brazil and Mexico.

Targeted interventions

Cluver said research has demonstrated that low‑cost accelerator approaches focused on family strengthening – a subset of the same strategies that have proven effective in preventing violence – can improve multiple outcomes for children with deceased caregivers.

“Accelerator programmes need to be adapted according to the COVID‑19 context. We need investments urgently to get this ball rolling,” she said.

“The devastating toll of caregiver loss increases daily, and will for as long as the pandemic continues. Addressing this hidden pandemic in a way that we know works should be of utmost importance.”


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UCT’s response to COVID-19

COVID-19 is a global pandemic that caused President Cyril Ramaphosa to declare a national disaster in South Africa on 15 March 2020 and to implement a national lockdown from 26 March 2020. UCT is taking the threat of infection in our university community extremely seriously, and this page will be updated with the latest COVID-19 information. Please note that the information on this page is subject to change depending on current lockdown regulations.

Minister of Health, Dr Joe Phaahla, has in June 2022 repealed some of South Africa’s remaining COVID-19 regulations: namely, sections 16A, 16B and 16C of the Regulations Relating to the Surveillance and the Control of Notifiable Medical Conditions under the National Health Act. We are now no longer required to wear masks or limit gatherings. Venue restrictions and checks for travellers coming into South Africa have now also been removed.

In July 2022, the University of Cape Town (UCT) revised its approach to managing the COVID-19 pandemic on UCT campuses in 2022.
Read the latest document available on the UCT policies web page.

 

Campus communications

 
2022

Adjusting to our new environment 16:50, 23 June 2022
VC Open Lecture and other updates 17:04, 13 April 2022
Feedback from UCT Council meeting of 12 March 2022 09:45, 18 March 2022
UCT Council
March 2022 graduation celebration 16:45, 8 March 2022
Report on the meeting of UCT Council of 21 February 2022 19:30, 21 February 2022
UCT Council
COVID-19 management 2022 11:55, 14 February 2022
Return to campus arrangements 2022 11:15, 4 February 2022

UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre

On Wednesday, 20 July, staff from the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Faculty of Health Sciences came together with representatives from the Western Cape Government at the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre at Forest Hill Residence to acknowledge the centre’s significance in the fight against COVID-19 and to thank its staff for their contributions. The centre opened on 1 September 2021 with the aim of providing quality vaccination services to UCT staff, students and the nearby communities, as well as to create an opportunity for medical students from the Faculty of Health Sciences to gain practical public health skills. The vaccination centre ceased operations on Friday, 29 July 2022.

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.

 

“After almost a year of operation, the University of Cape Town’s (UCT) Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, located at the Forest Hill residence complex in Mowbray, will close on Friday, 29 July 2022. I am extremely grateful and proud of all staff, students and everyone involved in this important project.”
– Vice-Chancellor Prof Mamokgethi Phakeng

With the closure of the UCT Community of Hope Vaccination Centre, if you still require access to a COVID-19 vaccination site please visit the CovidComms SA website to find an alternative.


Thank You UCT Community

Frequently asked questions

 

Global Citizen Asks: Are COVID-19 Vaccines Safe & Effective?

UCT’s Institute of Infectious Disease and Molecular Medicine (IDM) collaborated with Global Citizen, speaking to trusted experts to dispel vaccine misinformation.



If you have further questions about the COVID-19 vaccine check out the FAQ produced by the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation (DTHF). The DTHF has developed a dedicated chat function where you can ask your vaccine-related questions on the bottom right hand corner of the website.

IDM YouTube channel | IDM website
 

 

“As a contact university, we look forward to readjusting our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes in 2023 as the COVID-19 regulations have been repealed.”
– Prof Harsha Kathard, Acting Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Teaching and Learning

We are continuing to monitor the situation and we will be updating the UCT community regularly – as and when there are further updates. If you are concerned or need more information, students can contact the Student Wellness Service on 021 650 5620 or 021 650 1271 (after hours), while staff can contact 021 650 5685.

 

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