Economic Crises Taking a Toll on Children
- The global financial crisis may well have caused as many as 50,000 new infant deaths in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2009
- Baby girls are more likely to die when poor countries face economic shocks
- Nutrition programs addressing young children’s needs may offer benefits that last a lifetime
April 7, 2010—Economic shocks are taking a toll on a population already facing high risks in low-income countries: children.
In Sub-Saharan Africa, as many as 50,000 infants likely lost their lives last year to the global financial crisis that began in the U.S., almost all of them girls, according to economists at the World Bank’s Development Research Group. That worsens the region’s struggle to reduce infant mortality: 3 million already die every year before reaching their first birthday.
In addition, children in poor countries—mostly Africa and parts of Asia—are put at risk by droughts, export decline and other economic setbacks. They often drop out of school or lose access to health care, according to a series of research papers by the Development Research Group exploring the impact of economic crises. Read More...