Publication
Achieving Global Pediatric Palliative Care Equity—What We Have Yet to Learn
Umaretiya P, Wolfe J · JAMA Network Open · 2022
Injustice arises when equity is not a central consideration in health care interventions—a reality made more apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. Pediatric palliative care is a proven intervention that enhances care and is associated with decreased suffering for children with serious illness and their families. However, nearly two-thirds of countries lack access to pediatric palliative care despite a clear need. Children in low- and middle-income countries experience disproportionately high illness-related morbidity and mortality, an inequity highlighted in pediatric cancer. More than 80% of US children with cancer will survive 5 years, compared with less than 30% of children with cancer living in low- and middle-income countries; this injustice is more striking when considering that more than 80% of global pediatric cancer cases occur in these countries. For children with cancer living in low- and middle-income countries, improving integration of pediatric palliative care is just as crucial as improving access to life-extending therapies to decrease family suffering and improve quality of life.
Synced from the TRENDS in Pediatric Palliative Care Zotero library, curated by The Siden Research Team. ICPCN does not host or verify the full text.