Child at Risk of Poverty or Social Exclusion: Comparative View Between Spain and Portugal in the European Context

et al. 2020

Preprint

Objectives : To analyse the impact of austerity measures taken by European governments as a response to the 2008 economic and financial crisis on social determinants and child health (SDCH), and child health outcomes (CHO). Methods : A systematic literature review was carried out in Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Sociological abstracts in the last 5 years from European countries. Studies aimed at analysing the Great Recession, governments’ responses to the crisis, and its impact on SDCH were included. A narrative synthesis of the results was carried out. The risk of bias was assessed using the STROBE and EPICURE tools. Results : Fourteen studies were included, most of them with a low to intermediate risk of bias (average score 72.1%). Government responses to the crisis varied, although there was general agreement that Greece, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom applied higher levels of austerity. High austerity periods, compared to pre-austerity periods were associated with increased material deprivation, child poverty rates, and low birth weight. Increasing child poverty subsequent to austerity measures was associated with deterioration of child health. High austerity was also related to poorer access and quality of services provided to disabled children. An annual reduction of 1% on public health expenditure was associated to 0.5% reduction on Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination coverage in Italy. Conclusions : Countries that applied high level of austerity showed worse trends on SDCH and CHO. European governments must act urgently and reverse these austerity policy measures that are detrimental to family benefits and child protection.

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 92%

Section: Social Determinants Of Child Health (Sdch) (Table 2)mentioning

confidence: 95%

Austerity policy and child health in European countries: a systematic literature review

Rajmil

Hjern

et al. 2020

Preprint

“…Portugal following the crisis partly due to low levels of social protection; social transfers in both countries only reduced poverty and social exclusion by 7.4% [19,22]. Shares of the social benefits devoted to family/children in the UK and France were approximately double those in Italy and Greece.…”

Section: Risk Of Biasmentioning

confidence: 99%

Austerity policy and child health in European countries: a systematic literature review

Rajmil¹,

Hjern

et al. 2020

BMC Public Health

Background: To analyse the impact of austerity measures taken by European governments as a response to the 2008 economic and financial crisis on social determinants on child health (SDCH), and child health outcomes (CHO). Methods: A systematic literature review was carried out in Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Sociological abstracts in the last 5 years from European countries. Studies aimed at analysing the Great Recession, governments' responses to the crisis, and its impact on SDCH were included. A narrative synthesis of the results was carried out. The risk of bias was assessed using the STROBE and EPICURE tools. Results: Fourteen studies were included, most of them with a low to intermediate risk of bias (average score 72.1%). Government responses to the crisis varied, although there was general agreement that Greece, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom applied higher levels of austerity. High austerity periods, compared to pre-austerity periods were associated with increased material deprivation, child poverty rates, and low birth weight. Increasing child poverty subsequent to austerity measures was associated with deterioration of child health. High austerity was also related to poorer access and quality of services provided to disabled children. An annual reduction of 1% on public health expenditure was associated to 0.5% reduction on Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination coverage in Italy. Conclusions: Countries that applied high level of austerity showed worse trends on SDCH and CHO, demonstrating the importance that economic policy may have for equity in child health and development. European governments must act urgently and reverse these austerity policy measures that are detrimental to family benefits and child protection.

“…Herranz-Aguayo et al 2016 23 In 2013, Portugal exceeds the average on EU child poverty by almost 3% and Spain by almost 7% points. In Spain, one in three households is below the poverty thresholds (33.9%), followed by Portugal (31.1%).…”

Section: Measures the Level Of Austerity Measures Was Assessed By Mementioning

confidence: 97%

Austerity policy and child health in European countries: a systematic literature review

Rajmil

Hjern²,

et al. 2020

Preprint

Objectives : To analyse the impact of austerity measures taken by European governments as a response to the 2008 economic and financial crisis on social determinants and child health (SDCH), and child health outcomes (CHO). Methods : A systematic literature review was carried out in Medline (Ovid), Embase, Web of Science, PsycInfo, and Sociological abstracts in the last 5 years from European countries. Studies aimed at analysing the Great Recession, governments’ responses to the crisis, and its impact on SDCH were included. A narrative synthesis of the results was carried out. The risk of bias was assessed using the STROBE and EPICURE tools. Results : Fourteen studies were included, most of them with a low to intermediate risk of bias (average score 72.1%). Government responses to the crisis varied, although there was general agreement that Greece, Spain, Ireland and the United Kingdom applied higher levels of austerity. High austerity periods, compared to pre-austerity periods were associated with increased material deprivation, child poverty rates, and low birth weight. Increasing child poverty subsequent to austerity measures was associated with deterioration of child health. High austerity was also related to poorer access and quality of services provided to disabled children. An annual reduction of 1% on public health expenditure was associated to 0.5% reduction on Measles-Mumps-Rubella vaccination coverage in Italy.Conclusions : Countries that applied high level of austerity showed worse trends on SDCH and CHO. European governments must act urgently and reverse these austerity policy measures that are detrimental to family benefits and child protection.