April 6, 2021

Estimates and Projections of COVID-19 and Parental Death in the US

Category: Article Summary

Topic: Public Health Policy and Practice

Keywords (Tags): mortality, public health

• An estimated 37,300 children aged 0-17 years in the US had lost at least 1 parent due to COVID-19 by February 2021, of which roughly 3 in 4 are adolescents aged 10-17 years. Estimates were computed by taking current COVID-19 mortality estimates (479,000) and applying a bereavement multiplier (number of children parentally bereaved per COVID-19 death = 0.078) and calculated from demographic simulations using kinship networks of white and Black individuals in the US. Relying on estimates of excess deaths rather than confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 raised the estimate to 43,000 children. Black children are disproportionately affected, comprising roughly 20% of parentally bereaved children while only comprising 14% of the US population of children.

Kidman et al. (Apr 5, 2021). Estimates and Projections of COVID-19 and Parental Death in the US. JAMA Pediatrics. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamapediatrics.2021.0161