Children with cancer, diabetes, tuberculosis and other chronic diseases do not receive continuous treatment. Many children suffer from psychological trauma. Vaccinationprogrammes have been discontinued.
These are some of the consequences of the destruction, closure or relocation of hospitals, health centres and children’s wards to safer areas as a result of the war. The lack of staff, equipment, medicines and functioning medical transport means that many children do not receive the care they need. Children with disabilities and children living in institutions, where both medical care and psychosocial support have greatly deteriorated, are particularly vulnerable.
“The war in Ukraine has major consequences for children’s physical and mental health. Children are not only affected by direct injuries from violence and bombs, but also by the fact that the healthcare system is heavily burdened and forced to reprioritise,” says Denise Bäckström, affiliated researcher at Linköping University and the Swedish Defence University.
The study, published in the journal Communications Medicine, is the first to systematically compile the research so far published on children’s health and healthcare in Ukraine during the war. The research group has reviewed over a hundred scientific articles, reports and case studies to provide an overall picture of the situation.
Significant increase in mental health problems
The research shows that many children experience post-traumatic stress symptoms, anxiety and sleep difficulties after having had to flee, being separated from family members or subjected to direct acts of war. According to the study, mental health problems among children has increased significantly.
“Mental health must be seen as a key part of health care efforts, both during and after the war,” says Denise Bäckström.
Children who have lost their parents or been forced to leave their homes are particularly vulnerable. At the same time, resources in child psychiatry are very limited and vary widely between regions.
Maternity care and newborn babies are affected
Severe pressure applies also to maternal and neonatal care. Maternity wards have been bombed or closed. Women sometimes have to give birth in shelters or temporary clinics. This leads to more complications during pregnancy and childbirth, and to an increase in premature births. Newborns run a higher risk of dying or having permanent health problems, due to limited access to medical equipment and specialist staff.
Further research is needed
The researchers have identified several critical knowledge gaps, particularly regarding long-term effects on children’s health and which care interventions work best in a war context. They have conducted a systematic literature review of existing research. Unlike a traditional literature review, a scoping review also includes material published outside the usual commercial or academic publishers, so-called grey literature.
“It contributes information that’s not published through traditional scientific journals or books, but that can still be valuable for research,” says Aida Alvinius, professor of leadership and command & control at the Swedish Defence University.
The findings in the study show that there is a need for better protection and long-term efforts to support children’s recovery, according to Denise Bäckström.
“The knowledge that is now emerging can help not only Ukraine but also other countries be better equipped for future crises.”
Article: The Russo-Ukrainian War’s toll on paediatric health during the first two years and future research directions: a scoping review, Filippa Sennersten, Safora Frogh, Sebastian Påhlsson, Andreas Wladis, Aida Alvinius and Denise Bäckström, (2025), Communications Medicine, published online 23 October 2025, doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/s43856-025-01190-1
The text is based on a news article originally published on the Swedish Defence University’s website.
