A GLOBAL study of COVID-19 deaths, led by Australian National University (ANU) researchers, revealed nearly 2000 children lost a parent during the pandemic.

Australia’s COVID-19 orphan rate is estimated at 0.13, meaning for every 100 pandemic-related deaths, 13 young people lost one or both of their parents.

The analysis, based on data from 2021, found fertility rates, poverty, vaccine coverage and the concentration of diseases such as diabetes and heart disease contributed to a larger risk of children becoming orphaned.

ANU researcher Callum Lowe said an estimated 1800 to 1900 young Australians lost at least one parent during the pandemic.

“We think of COVID-19 as a disease that largely affects older people, but we have forgotten about the young people and children that are left behind,” said Lowe.

“These are children that may have lost one or, sometimes tragically, both parents. They were grieving in lockdowns, away from other family and friends and without the routine of normal school life.

“That has an impact on their mental health, their education and their wellbeing over the long term. It highlights that COVID-19 isn’t just having an impact now but is having a huge effect on the next generation.”

The data also found some of the countries most affected by the risk of orphaned children were in Africa, particularly countries that were below media GDP per capita.

“COVID-19 has spread to almost every country on the globe but there continues to be huge disparities about the effect on different countries,” said Lowe.