The drama of Hansel and Gretel is a never-ending tragedy in some places even today. While in some parts of the world children have resources and care to spare, in others it is still the Middle Ages.

Sample of report of Venezuelan mothers leaving their children at orphanages:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/the_americas/venezuelas-economy-is-so-bad-parents-are-leaving-their-children-at-orphanages/2018/02/12/8021d180-0545-11e8-aa61-f3391373867e_story.html?utm_term=.83ffa99d5b12

Report of mothers abandoning their children, period!
https://www.smh.com.au/world/south-america/we-are-going-hungry-here-venezuela-s-tale-of-abandoned-needy-children-and-their-parents-20180713-p4zrdk.html

This is probably, after Little Red RidingHood the most widely spread story in world folklore. The reason, as you syggest, being the shared world experience of hunger and pestilence, which forces people, especailly parents, to do the unthinkable.