The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America
Child health serves as a critical barometer of a society's well-being, yet profound disparities persist globally, stemming from ''unequal beginnings'' rooted in socioeconomic, environmental, and systemic factors. This brief review examines the complex determinants of child h...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Global Pediatrics |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266700972500034X |
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| author | Antonio D’Avino Angel Carrasco-Sanz Anna Libera Latino Maria Pastore Ida Giardino Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani Francesca Scaltrito Domenico Adduce Maria Teresa Grimaldi Luigi Nigri |
| author_facet | Antonio D’Avino Angel Carrasco-Sanz Anna Libera Latino Maria Pastore Ida Giardino Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani Francesca Scaltrito Domenico Adduce Maria Teresa Grimaldi Luigi Nigri |
| author_sort | Antonio D’Avino |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Child health serves as a critical barometer of a society's well-being, yet profound disparities persist globally, stemming from ''unequal beginnings'' rooted in socioeconomic, environmental, and systemic factors. This brief review examines the complex determinants of child health inequities across Europe and draws comparisons with the United States. In Europe, despite historical health gains, stagnation and widening gaps are observed in child mortality, chronic illnesses, and mental health, exacerbated by poverty, educational disparities, and fragmented healthcare systems. A significant barrier to effective policy is the pervasive lack of consistent and comparable child health data. In the United States, similar socioeconomic disparities are compounded by deep-seated racial inequities in healthcare access and quality, highlighting the pervasive influence of structural factors beyond insurance coverage. Emerging challenges, such as the escalating burden of mental health conditions, lifestyle-related diseases, and the disproportionate impact of climate change through ''systemic cooling poverty,'' present new complexities. Artificial intelligence offers transformative potential for pediatric care but also carries risks of exacerbating existing disparities if not ethically and equitably implemented. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates a concerted, multi-sectoral approach, emphasizing child-centric integrated care, robust data systems, and sustained political commitment to dismantle the systemic roots of inequity. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-d35137d0fe524ecc93e0e29dc2d50fe1 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 2667-0097 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Global Pediatrics |
| spelling | doaj-art-d35137d0fe524ecc93e0e29dc2d50fe12025-08-20T03:58:21ZengElsevierGlobal Pediatrics2667-00972025-09-011310027610.1016/j.gpeds.2025.100276The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North AmericaAntonio D’Avino0Angel Carrasco-Sanz1Anna Libera Latino2Maria Pastore3Ida Giardino4Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani5Francesca Scaltrito6Domenico Adduce7Maria Teresa Grimaldi8Luigi Nigri9European Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric societies and Associations, Berlin, Germany; Italian Federation of Pediatricians, Rome, ItalyAsociación Española de Pediatría, Madrid, Spain; European Confederation of Primary care Pediatricians, Lyon, FranceItalian Federation of Pediatricians, Rome, Italy; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Pediatrics, Institute for Scientific Research «Casa Sollievo», University of Foggia, Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, Foggia, ItalyEuropean Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric societies and Associations, Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; Department of Pediatrics, Institute for Scientific Research «Casa Sollievo», University of Foggia, Foggia, Italy; Italian Academy of Pediatrics, Milan, Italy; Fondazione GE Ghirardi, Piazzola SB, Padova, Italy; Corresponding author.European Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric societies and Associations, Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, ItalyDepartment of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, ItalyEuropean Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric societies and Associations, Berlin, Germany; Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, Chair of Pediatrics, University of Foggia, Foggia, ItalyEuropean Pediatric Association, Union of National European Pediatric societies and Associations, Berlin, Germany; Italian Federation of Pediatricians, Rome, ItalyChild health serves as a critical barometer of a society's well-being, yet profound disparities persist globally, stemming from ''unequal beginnings'' rooted in socioeconomic, environmental, and systemic factors. This brief review examines the complex determinants of child health inequities across Europe and draws comparisons with the United States. In Europe, despite historical health gains, stagnation and widening gaps are observed in child mortality, chronic illnesses, and mental health, exacerbated by poverty, educational disparities, and fragmented healthcare systems. A significant barrier to effective policy is the pervasive lack of consistent and comparable child health data. In the United States, similar socioeconomic disparities are compounded by deep-seated racial inequities in healthcare access and quality, highlighting the pervasive influence of structural factors beyond insurance coverage. Emerging challenges, such as the escalating burden of mental health conditions, lifestyle-related diseases, and the disproportionate impact of climate change through ''systemic cooling poverty,'' present new complexities. Artificial intelligence offers transformative potential for pediatric care but also carries risks of exacerbating existing disparities if not ethically and equitably implemented. Addressing these multifaceted challenges necessitates a concerted, multi-sectoral approach, emphasizing child-centric integrated care, robust data systems, and sustained political commitment to dismantle the systemic roots of inequity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266700972500034XEconomicsSocialCommunity |
| spellingShingle | Antonio D’Avino Angel Carrasco-Sanz Anna Libera Latino Maria Pastore Ida Giardino Massimo Pettoello-Mantovani Francesca Scaltrito Domenico Adduce Maria Teresa Grimaldi Luigi Nigri The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America Global Pediatrics Economics Social Community |
| title | The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America |
| title_full | The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America |
| title_fullStr | The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America |
| title_full_unstemmed | The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America |
| title_short | The persistent shadow of disparity across the Atlantic: child health determinants and policy implications in Europe and North America |
| title_sort | persistent shadow of disparity across the atlantic child health determinants and policy implications in europe and north america |
| topic | Economics Social Community |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S266700972500034X |
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