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How does armed conflict affect the health of women and children, and what are the long-term public health consequences in conflict zones?

Armed conflict imposes a profound and multifaceted burden on women’s and children’s health, far beyond direct violence. A global review by CID Faculty Affiliate Ana Langer and co-authors estimates that over 630 million women and children—more than 8% of the world’s population—were directly or indirectly affected by armed conflict in 2017. The study combines geospatial analysis, mortality data, and systematic reviews of existing evidence to examine the wide-ranging health impacts of conflict across mortality, malnutrition, disease, mental health, and reproductive outcomes. 

Key Findings:

• Vast Scale of Exposure: In 2017, 52 million women and children were displaced by conflict, and an additional 633 million lived within 50 km of armed conflict events. The number of affected women and children has grown steadily since 2000 due to population growth, urban conflict, and protracted violence.
•  Indirect Mortality is Massive: Armed conflict increases child and maternal mortality from non-violent causes. From 1995 to 2015, 10+ million under-5 deaths and 6–7 million infant deaths were attributable to conflict exposure. Women of reproductive age near high-intensity conflicts face up to a 3x higher risk of death.
• Malnutrition, Disease, and Psychological Trauma: Conflict leads to higher rates of acute and chronic malnutrition, disease outbreaks (measles, cholera, tuberculosis), and disrupted maternal care. Mental health burdens—especially post-traumatic stress disorder and depression—are disproportionately high among women and children and compounded by gender-based violence.
• Fragile Evidence Base: Despite widespread effects, much of the data is fragmented or localized. Data on adolescents, mental health, and non-communicable diseases are particularly sparse, impeding policy design and resource allocation. 

Policy Impact and Relevance:

This review draws attention to the complex and sustained health burdens that armed conflict imposes on civilians—especially women and children—long after violence subsides. It calls for integrating health into post-conflict reconstruction, not merely as a humanitarian priority but as a foundation for long-term development and stability. The health effects of conflict are not just immediate and visible (e.g., injuries or deaths) but also indirect, hidden, and intergenerational, creating persistent inequalities in human capital. 
 
For policymakers, the findings underscore the need for conflict-sensitive health systems that can withstand shocks and serve marginalized populations during and after crises. The authors also highlight the importance of investing in data systems and longitudinal studies to capture how exposure to violence shapes health outcomes over time. 
 
More broadly, the paper contributes to our understanding of the developmental consequences of conflict. It shows that investing in the health and well-being of conflict-affected populations is not only a moral imperative but also a necessary condition for rebuilding inclusive and resilient societies. In an era of rising global conflict, these insights are increasingly vital for designing policies that bridge humanitarian response and sustainable development.