The impact of COVID-19 response measures on the quality of life for children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region using an exposome approach: a narrative review

ABSTRACT

Background: There is a consensus that children's needs have not been sufficiently prioritized during the COVID-19 pandemic, and their right to a safe and healthy childhood has been compromised to an extent, worldwide. A comprehensive assessment of population- and individual-level changes associated with COVID-19 and its pandemic response measures could be undertaken using the human exposome concept. The exposome is defined as the totality of environmental exposures from conception onwards, including the endogenous response. The objective of this study was to conduct a narrative review using an exposome approach exploring short-term changes in the children's exposome profile (< 18 years old) associated with the COVID-19 measures implemented in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR).