1 The current state of children’s health

Advances in medicine and living conditions over the last 150 years or so have resulted in improved life expectancy and reduced child mortality, meaning that many more children survive infancy. The medical discoveries that have been significant in preventing death and improving the quality of lives includes the discovery of vaccines (to prevent or reduce the impact of some infectious diseases) and penicillin (to treat infectious diseases caused by bacteria). Improved living conditions in countries like England, such as sanitation and access to clean water, have been significant in improving health.

Since the start of the twenty-first century, other threats to children’s health have emerged which are of great concern to global, national and professional organisations. The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health State of Child Health Report stated that:

The COVID-19 pandemic may not have caused the same numbers of illness and deaths in babies and young children as it did in older and vulnerable people. However, there are unforeseen consequences that have had, and still are impacting, on children’s health. As the world is recovering from the impact of the restrictions that were put in place to limit the spread of coronavirus during the pandemic, the impact on children, especially those living in poverty and disadvantage, is becoming evident. For example, many children were unable to access outdoor spaces that enabled them to be physically active, which in turn could have contributed to increased childhood obesity.

The following section describes the contemporary health conditions that are affecting children.