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Background

The Russo-Ukrainian War has profoundly affected healthcare systems, with children among the most vulnerable. Disruptions to essential services and care provision pose serious risks to child health and well-being. Understanding these impacts is critical to developing effective interventions and guiding research and policy. This scoping review examines paediatric health impacts during the Russo-Ukrainian War’s first two years and identifies gaps in the evidence base.

Methods

A PubMed search was conducted and supplemented with grey literature from WHO and UNICEF. Articles were included if they addressed children and focused on health-related impacts of the war. Eligible studies were required to be in English and published after the full-scale invasion on February 24, 2022. Exclusion criteria included articles unrelated to children, non-health topics, or geographically irrelevant studies. Data were synthesised thematically across key areas, including healthcare access, mental health, and chronic diseases. Risk of bias was assessed qualitatively.

Results

Of 559 articles retrieved, 102 met the inclusion criteria. These included original research, reviews, letters, commentaries, and other relevant publications. The review found widespread disruptions in access to essential services and healthcare. It also identified significant impacts on injury and trauma care, chronic conditions, and infectious diseases. Challenges for displaced children and host countries were also frequently reported.

Conclusions

Findings highlight the war’s broad and complex impact on paediatric health and underscore the need for targeted responses. Addressing critical gaps in empirical research is essential to inform effective health policies and interventions.