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Children and adolescents in the WHO European Region face unprecedented health challenges. Despite a high standard of living for many children in the Region, they remain particularly vulnerable to the myriad challenges posed by climate change, widening socioeconomic gaps, migration, and armed conflict. Against this backdrop, significant disparities in child health between and within countries not only persist but are, in fact, increasing.
The Region is witnessing concerning trends in health issues ranging from overweight and obesity, to chronic respiratory diseases, to mental health conditions, intentional and unintentional injuries, and unaddressed developmental difficulties. Under-immunization against serious vaccine-preventable illnesses and the overuse of antibiotics continue to pose considerable threats to children and adolescents. Rapidly evolving digital environments have outpaced regulatory measures, exposing children and adolescents to harmful social media content and excessive screentime.
While the Region includes countries with the lowest infant and child mortality rates globally, mortality in countries with the highest rate for children under 5 years is up to 28 times higher than that in countries with the lowest rate. For the first time in decades, we are witnessing stagnation and even reversal in infant and child mortality rates in the Region, alongside an increase in adolescent mortality rates across 19 countries.
These trends are particularly noteworthy because much of the morbidity and mortality among children and adolescents could be prevented or mitigated. Primary and specialist care services available to children and adolescents in the Region are not always optimal; enhancing quality of care is crucial for ensuring children and adolescents grow up to live longer and healthy lives.
