Systematic review: family efforts in preventing covid-19 on special needs children

Abstract

Introduction: Indonesia has experienced a crisis due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Both adults and children are affected by the crisis. The incidence of COVID-19 in children is not as many as in adults, but prevention efforts need to be done by families. Likewise for children with special needs. The article aims to explain family effort in preventing COVID-19 on children with special needs. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted to identify papers on family efforts to prevent COVID-19 in children with special needs using the PubMed databases between 1st of January and 31st of December 2020. The search identified 15 relevant scientific papers. Results: Indonesia has 80 million children (about 30 percent of the population), and although the health risk from COVID-19 infection is lower in children compared to the older age group, children are most likely to be severely affected by COVID-19 in both the short and long term. Family efforts during the pandemic COVID-19 aim to provide necessities and care, provide nutritional needs, maintain children learning process, protect children from violence, exploitation, and abuse. Conclusion: Family efforts in preventing COVID-19 include providing knowledge, regional authority, mental health services, finance, nutrition and health, education, and child protection. Studies regarding the impact of COVID-19 on children with special needs have been undertaken, although not many.