Fiscal Adjustment in Brazil May Lead to 20 Thousand Child Deaths by 2030

[Judi Lynn]

05/23/2018 - 12H28

A study conducted by Brazilian and British researchers projected that if Brazil maintains the austerity measures that were implemented in 2015 following the economic recession, then an additional 20 thousand children may die by 2030.

The increase in infant mortality rates would be caused by budget cuts in social programs such as Bolsa Família - which directly transfers income to families that are in extreme poverty - and the Family Health Strategy (ESF). The former program benefits 21% of the Brazilian population, while the latter program benefits 65%.

The study, which was published in the international journal PLOS Medicine, resorts to mathematical and statistical models to measure the effects of the economic crisis and the impact that budget cuts would have on child healthcare between 2017 and 2030 in all 5,507 of Brazil's municipalities.

According to the study, if the current level of social investments is maintained, then child deaths would be reduced by 8.6% - in other words, 20,000 fewer deaths. Additionally, up to 124,000 hospitalizations for preventable conditions, such as malnutrition and diarrhea, could be avoided.

More:
http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/internacional/en/brazil/2018/05/1969498-fiscal-adjustment-in-brazil-may-lead-to-20-thousand-child-deaths-by-2030.shtml