Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Welfare

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted the systems and environments that underpin child welfare worldwide. Public health measures such as school closures, lockdowns and social distancing, while essential to limit viral transmission, have inadvertently threatened children’s safety, health and development. Increased family stress, economic instability and isolation from protective adults have heightened risks of violence, neglect and mental health problems. Essential services, including child protection agencies and healthcare facilities, experienced reduced capacity to identify and respond to cases, contributing to declines in formal reporting despite indications that actual prevalence of maltreatment rose. In parallel, children’s own perspectives highlight the profound emotional and social toll of confinement, loss of routine and diminished opportunities for play, education and social interaction. Together, these findings underscore the need for multisectoral strategies that maintain safe environments, strengthen support for caregivers and ensure children’s voices inform policy and practice.

Research from Nature Portfolio

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Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Child Welfare publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in impact of the covid-19 pandemic on child welfare across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Child protection system: Network of services, policies and legal frameworks designed to prevent and respond to abuse, neglect and exploitation of children.

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): Potentially traumatic events in childhood, such as violence or household dysfunction, that can have long-term health and social consequences.

Remote service delivery: Provision of support and interventions via telephone, video conferencing or online platforms when in-person contact is limited.

Mental health symptoms: Manifestations of psychological distress, including anxiety, depression and post-traumatic stress, which may affect parents and children during crises.

References

1. Family violence against children in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic: a review of current perspectives and risk factors. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (2020).
2. Impact of COVID-19 on Child Maltreatment: Income Instability and Parenting Issues. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
3. Violence against children during the COVID-19 pandemic. Bulletin of the World Health Organization (2021).
4. Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic On Violence Against Children: A Narrative Review. Current Psychiatry Reports (2023).
5. Parental stress and physical violence against children during the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic: results of a population-based survey in Germany. Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Mental Health (2023).
6. Epidemiological Study of Violence against Children and Its Increase during the COVID-19 Pandemic. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021).
7. Life Under Coronavirus: Children’s Views on their Experiences of their Human Rights. The International Journal of Children's Rights (2021).