Table 3 Child health and healthcare services

 Rajmil 2018 et al. [21]

LBW increased during the period 2012–15 in those countries with higher austerity (interaction austerity*period 2012–15, B: 0.25; p = 0.004)

 Zografaki et al. 2018 [25]

LBW increased (Standardised rate ratio, SRR = 1.07[1.06–1.09]), as well as preterm births (SRR = 1.39, [1.37–1.42] during established crisis. Some differences found according to maternal origin and age

 Gunnlaugsson 2015 [18]

Governmental responses gave prominence to redistribution, through taxes and the social protection system. A set of measures protected children and were specifically improved (mental health, maternity care, immunisation). A few indicators worsened (i.e. small for gestation age changed from 2 to 3.4%.)

 Robinson et al. 2018 [23]

Absolute inequalities on IMR increased in 1990–1999 (annual change between the most deprived local authorities and the rest of England = 0.03) decreased during the welfare strategy period 2000–2010 (−0.11) and increased in 2011–2017 (0.04). The analysis suggests that it is increases in public spending on healthcare and welfare that are associated with decreases in inequalities in the IMR.

 Reinhard et al. 2018 [28]

48% in 2011 and 60% in 2013 reported a reduction in welfare benefits. Besides the effect of the crisis itself, it was associated with an increased risk of reporting asthma (β = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.004, 0.023) and atopy symptoms (β = 0.014, 95% CI: 0.001, 0.027).

 Rajmil et al. 2015 [22]

Great impact on health of vulnerable children related to cutting budgets on housing, access to HCS, preschool investment. Increasing number of children living in poverty. No impact on child health at general population level but to the most vulnerable groups

 Horridge et al. 2019 [16]

Health care professionals reported worsening quality of services than 3 years ago: increased waiting times, and less time allocated to see each child compared to 3 years ago, and worse working conditions in the last year. Nine in every ten families reported worsening quality of services for their disabled children compared to 3 years ago. Families from countries with austerity cuts reported more difficult access to welfare support and benefits.

 Stalker et al. 2015 [29]

Reduction or withdrawal of services in a wide range of provision—social work, education, voluntary organisations, health and professions allied to medicine. Examples of services that were not provided or shortened. Closure of day centres. Voluntary sector survey: A Shift from Preventative Work to Crisis Intervention. Increase in unmet needs. Some families waited between one and 3 years for assessments or services on child mental health for diagnose, equipment and/or home extensions. Difficulty meeting the needs of children on the autistic spectrum was a recurring theme

 Toffolutti et al. 2018 [24]

PHE fell by 2% in the whole country between 2010 and 2014. By regions, each 1% annual reduction was associated to 0.5% (0.36–0.65) reduction on the coverage on MMR