Did the UN convention on the rights of the child reduce child mortality around the world? An interrupted time series analysis

Abstract

Background: Child mortality has been reduced by more than 50 % over the past 30 years. A range of secular economic and social developments have been considered to explain this phenomenon. In this paper, we examine the association between ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which was specifically put in place to ensure the well-being of children, and declines in child mortality. Methods: Data come from three sources: the United Nations Treaty Series Database, the World Bank World Development Indicators database and, the Polity IV database. Because CRC was widely ratified, leaving few control cases, we used interrupted times series analyses, which uses the trend in the health outcome before policy exposure to mathematically determine what the trend in the health outcome would have been after the policy exposure, if it had continued 'as is'meaning, if the policy exposure had not occurred. Results: CRC ratification was associated with declining child mortality. CRC ratification was associated with a significant change in shorter-term child mortality trends in all groups except high-income, non-democratic countries and low-imcome democratic countries. CRC ratification was associated with long-term child mortality trends in all groups except middle-income, non-democratic countries. Conclusions: Child mortality rates would likely have declined even in the absence of CRC ratification, but CRC is associated with a larger decline. Our findings provide a way to assess the effects of widely-held societal norms on health and demonstrate the moderating effects of democracy and income level.

Human rights and HIV: rhetoric or determinants?

“…Despite the lack of attention to rights in the journal articles reviewed, scholars are critically examining the impact of human rights at an ecological and individual level. Studies have examined the correlation between human rights treaty ratification by countries and child survival and other health indicators 35 36. Researchers have also used modelling to examine the relationship between the criminalisation of key populations such as sex workers, LGBTQ+ populations and persons who use drugs and HIV prevalence.…”

Rural mothers' beliefs and practices about diagnosis, treatment, and management of children health problems: A qualitative study in marginalized Southern Pakistan

“…The reduction of child mortality rates has been a major focus of the Convention on the Rights of Children Initiative ( 4 ). The remote and underdeveloped areas often lack the services of the biomedical sector.…”

Exploring the effect of kin caregivers' family functioning on child survival in South Africa: An application of the Family Systems Theory

“…While there is substantial literature that has examined the effect of household dynamics and composition on child health outcomes, it remains largely unknown how kin caregivers' family functioning influences child survival, particularly in the South African context, where the practice of kinship care is widespread. Reducing under‐five deaths has been a central concern of the Convention on the Rights of Children Initiative (Mekonen & Tiruneh, 2014; Reinbold, 2019; September, 2014; Tait et al, 2020). Thus, it is vital to focus on children who are raised relatives, as these children are often placed in situations that are complex and where serious physical, mental, developmental and psychosocial problems develop (Bramlett & Blumberg, 2007; Szilagyi et al, 2015).…”