Estimating the global need for palliative care for children: A cross-sectional analysis

Abstract

CONTEXT: The need for children’s palliative care (CPC) globally is unknown. In order to understand the scope of the need and to advocate to meet it, more accurate estimates are needed. OBJECTIVES: To create an accurate global estimate of the worldwide need for CPC based on a representative sample of countries from all regions of the world and all World Bank income groups. METHODS: This work builds on previously published methods developed by the International Children’s Palliative Care Network, UNICEF, and WHO and tested in three African countries. The study used a cross-sectional design with quantitative data obtained from primary and secondary data sources. Estimation of the need used prevalence data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation, mortality data from the WHO for the specific diseases known to require CPC, and UNAIDS data on HIV prevalence. Representative data were analyzed for twenty-three countries representing 59.5% of the world’s population. RESULTS: The findings show estimated need for children’s palliative care ranged from almost 120 per 10,000 children in Zimbabwe to slightly more than 20 per 10,000 in the United Kingdom. Overall, among the over 21 million with conditions that will benefit annually from a palliative care approach, more than 8 million need specialized children’s palliative care worldwide. CONCLUSION: The estimation of need for CPC is a critical step in meeting the needs of children with life-threatening conditions and provides a sound platform to advocate for closure of the unacceptably wide gaps in coverage.