Study: Ukrainian children's health has declined amid ongoing war
The first elaborate study on Ukrainian children's health, "The level of involvement of children and youth in physical activity and the impact of sports on physical and mental health," was conducted in Ukraine.
The Kateryna Biloruska Foundation presented the results on its website, Rubryka reports.
What is the problem?
The state of physical culture and sports in Ukraine remains unsatisfactory despite laws and programs. The first comprehensive study in Ukraine revealed children and youth are not involved enough in physical activity and sports, and their physical and mental health have deteriorated during the war.
Yellow marks "Number of people attending physical education classes in schools"; Red indicates "Share of people attending physical education classes in schools"
The level of attendance to PE classes in schools among children and youth %: Now, 54 % attend. Before Feb. 24, 85% used to attend.
How does it work?
With the support of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, the National Center for Physical Health of the Population, "Sports for All," and Kateryna Biloruska's charity fund, the State Institute of Family and Youth Policy, together with its collaborators, conducted a comprehensive study that revealed problems in physical culture and sports.
Here are some key findings:
- 7.6% of respondents do not have the necessary conditions for sports and physical activity;
- 46% of children have not attended physical education classes since the beginning of the full-scale invasion. Before the war, this figure was only 15%.
- only 22.6% of respondents stated that there are no restrictions on physical education and sports in their locality;
- 66.6% of children do not attend sports clubs. By February 24, 2022, this figure was 37%.
Presence of proper conditions for sports in a locality: Yes (54.2%), Rather yes than no (22.4%), Rather no than yes (9.5%), No (7.6%), Difficult to answer (6.3%)
The conditions for physical education and sports are also insufficiently developed; there is no or insufficiently developed infrastructure (sports grounds, sports facilities, sports sections, clubs, etc.). There are also restrictions for children and young people with disabilities to engage in physical education and sports, namely:
- lack of specialized facilities and a barrier-free environment for people with limited mobility,
- lack of trainers for persons with disabilities and programs and specialists aimed at this category of children,
- as well as fear and unusual conditions for physical education and sports.
Limitations for children with disabilities in sports and physical education: No limitations (22.6%), No barrier-free environment (23.5%), No specialized facilities (21.5%), No trainer for people with disabilities (19%), Fear (19%)
The general health of children and young people has deteriorated since the start of a full-scale invasion, particularly mental health. Academic performance at school deteriorated, anxiety disorders, pessimistic views on life, sleep disorders, and appetite problems are more frequent. This concerns the number of healthy children not only in recent years but also in decades. It happened against the background of a decrease in the number of children.
So, the most common diseases among children aged 0-17 years are:
- decrease in visual acuity (47.85 people per 1000 children in 2017 and 45.67 people per 1000 children in 2021);
- hearing (39.45 and 36.13, respectively);
- speech impairment (18.62 and 13.98, respectively);
- posture disorders, scoliosis (15.4 and 14.65, respectively).
Also, after the start of the full-scale war, children's physical and mental health deteriorated compared to the period until February 24, 2022. Previously, the factors that worsened the health of children and young people were:
- unhealthy diet;
- sedentary lifestyle;
- computer and Internet addiction;
- lack of desire and motivation in children;
- insufficient development of sports infrastructure;
- lack of sections and clubs.
Whereas after the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, children's health has been worsened by limited or no access to sports infrastructure, destroyed sports infrastructure, lack of security, threat of shelling, constant air alarms, uncontrollable performance of exercises, and imaginary presence in lessons.
The rate of disability among children also remains high. If the share of children under 18 with disabilities in 2018 was 1.6% (of the total number of children under 18), then in 2021, this indicator increased to 2.2%.
The results of this study serve as the basis for developing and implementing solutions and programs to improve the physical and mental health of children and youth in Ukraine.
What is the solution?
"Quarantine measures and a full-scale war have globally changed society, and its habits and priorities have changed. More than ever, we need to discuss the importance of a healthy lifestyle and physical activity as an important component of children and youth's physical and mental well-being," said Andzhela Fokina, director of Kateryna Biloruska Foundation.
To solve this problem, Ukraine needs to take the following measures:
- increase the physical activity of children in schools: develop sports clubs and physical education classes;
- improve the infrastructure for sports: sports fields and facilities for children with disabilities;
- to develop inclusive sports: creating conditions for physical education and sports for children with disabilities and supporting specialized coaching programs.
"Now one of the important issues is the organization of health-improving physical activity for all categories of citizens, in particular, persons with disabilities, to improve the quality and duration of the active life of the population, preventing diseases and overcoming their consequences," said Oleksandr Stetsenko, director of the department of physical culture and non-Olympic sports of the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine.
However, the most important thing is to motivate and support children: to conduct information campaigns and activities that encourage parents to involve their children in physical activity and sports.
