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Review Article

The impact of the Ebola epidemics on children’s rights: a scoping review

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Article: 2061240 | Received 04 Jan 2022, Accepted 28 Mar 2022, Published online: 04 May 2022
 

ABSTRACT

Background

The Ebola virus is known as one of the deadliest pathogens to infect humans. Children represent a minority of Ebola Virus Disease cases globally. Yet, the different Ebola outbreaks in Africa had a wide impact on children’s lives and children’ rights.

Objective

Review the published literature to date on Children’s rights during Ebola outbreaks. Outcomes shall contribute to get a better understanding of the main limitations or violations of children’s rights, identify potential gaps in the literature and support the promotion and protection of children’s rights for current and future health crisis.

Methods

A scoping review from PubMed, Medline, Cochrane Library and Web of Science was performed using PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Articles, reports and editorial, published on Ebola Outbreaks between 1976 and 2020 were retrieved. The UNCRC clusters of rights and treaty specific guidelines were used as a framework. Documents were found through a targeted search of websites from international or regional organisations involved in Ebola crises and children’s protection.

Results

48 articles and reports were reviewed. Few documents focused solely on children’s rights. Several articles covered the topic of children and Ebola outbreaks. Most of the data are linked to basic health, education, discrimination of orphans and survivors. 31% of the reviewed articles underline the violence against the children (rape, abuse, Female genital mutilations), while 21% focus on the right to education. 23% cover the topic of orphans. Impact on mental health and SRH were amongst the other covered topics.

Conclusion

A lack of data on children’s rights and their violations during epidemics is observed. Regional and international collaboration is needed to document the situation of children in health emergencies. Health measures and strategies based on children’s opinions and raising awareness of their crucial role in society is key. Child-centred guidelines should be developed based on these elements.

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall

Responsible Editor

Stig Wall

List of abbreviations

ACHPR=

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights

ACERWC=

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

ACRWC=

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

AU=

African Union

ICRC=

International Committee of the Red Cross

CRC=

Committee on the Rights of the Child

DRC=

Democratic Republic of the Congo

EBOVE=

bola Virus

ETF=

European Training Foundation

EVDE=

bola Virus Disease

FGM=

Female Genital Mutilation

IHRDA=

Institute for Human Rights and Development in Africa

ISSOP=

International Society for Social Pediatrics and Child Health

MHPSS=

Mental Health and Psychosocial Support Services

NGO=

Non-Governmental Organization

SRH=

Sexual and Reproductive Health

UNCRC=

United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child

UNHCR=

United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees

UNFPA=

United Nations Population Fund

UNGA=

United Nations General Assembly

UNICEF=

United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund

WHO=

World Health Organization

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the organization “Save the children” for their support in the search of applicable resources for our study.

Author contributions

Irene Lunghi contributed to the implementation of the research methodology, analysis of the results and writing of the original manuscript, review and editing.

Awa Babington-Ashaye, contributed to the validation of the research design, review and editing of the manuscript.

Prof. Jean-Dominique Vassalli, Dr Yvon Heller, Prof. Pierre-André Michaud, Dr Didier Wernli, Olivia Heller and Prof. Antoine Flahault reviewed and commented on the content of the manuscript.

Prof. Stéphanie Dagron designed and supervised the research, reviewed, commented and edited the manuscript.

All authors discussed the results and commented on the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Ethics and consent

Not applicable

Paper context

The Ebola virus disease (EVD) is a severe and often fatal disease affecting humans. Serious impacts of the Ebola outbreaks on children’s rights have been noticed. Our paper aims to review published literature on Ebola and Children’s rights; our findings highlight a paucity of data available and serious rights’ violations impairing children’s health and areas such as education, mental health, family relationships, child abuses. Promoting children’s rights and collaboration between stakeholders and countries is essential.

Additional information

Funding

The authors received no financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.