What Did We Want to Know?

The indirect consequences of COVID-19 measures on children and youth in Canada, including: 

1. Whether hospitalizations for child maltreatment among children under 2 changed during the pandemic, and whether cases became more severe. 

2. The patterns of lower respiratory tract infections such as bronchiolitis and pneumonia and predictors of admissions to pediatric tertiary care and ICU 

3. How pandemic restrictions affected the mental health, healthcare access, and daily lives of youth and caregivers experiencing structural marginalization. 

How Did We Do It & What Did We Find?

We conducted:  

1. A national population-based study examining hospitalizations for child maltreatment among children under 2 years (2016–2023), including ICU admissions. Published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal. We found: 

   • Hospitalizations for child maltreatment dropped approximately 30% early in the pandemic, then returned to pre-pandemic levels. ICU admissions for maltreatment increased approximately 80% after the early pandemic period, suggesting some cases were identified later when more severe  

2. A national population-based study examining hospitalizations for Lower respiratory tract infection amongst children under 17 years (2016–2023), including ICU admissions. (One manuscript in peer review at CMAJ and another in author review). We found: 

   • The epidemiology of LRTI hospitalisations in Canada were impacted by the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. An immediate reduction in LRTI hospitalisations for two years (up to 91% reduction) was followed by unanticipated large increase (38%) in hospitalisations in 2022-2023, off season, after NPIs were reduced. Variables associated with pediatric tertiary care center hospitalizations included preterm birth, chronic lung disease neurologic impairment and congenital heart disease. Variables associated with ICU admissions were similar. For both outcomes, most risk factors did not display differences between pre- and post-pandemic onset periods. 

3. An ongoing qualitative study interviewing youth and caregivers connected to BC Children’s Social Pediatrics Program to understand how pandemic restrictions affected mental health, healthcare access, and daily life among structurally marginalized families. We found: 

   • Early qualitative findings highlight significant mental health strain, disrupted supports, and amplified inequities for structurally marginalized families  

What Specific Data Are We Collecting?

Who Can Participate?

• Population-based longitudinal study using administrative health data that does not have any patient identifiers.

• Qualitative descriptive studies:

  • Healthcare providers, researchers, and community members.