Impact of Climate Change on Pregnancy and Reproductive Outcomes

Mitigation and key take home messages.

Ø A framework for the effects of climate change on maternal and neonatal health, and the necessary multisectoral responses is needed to strengthen resilience of pregnancy and reproductive outcomes against adverse climate change stressors.

Ø Policy, clinical, and research strategies for adaptation and mitigation should be continued, strengthened, and expanded with cross-disciplinary efforts. Top priorities should include:

1. Reinforcing and expanding policies to further reduce GHG emissions.

2. Increasing awareness and education resources for healthcare providers and the public.

3. Facilitating access to quality population-based data in low-resource areas.

4. Research efforts to better understand mechanisms of effects, identify susceptible populations and windows of exposure, explore interactive impacts of multiple exposures, and develop novel methods to better quantify pregnancy health impacts.

Key take home messages

Ø Air pollution and climate change both have an immediate adverse effect on reproductive, maternal and perinatal health outcomes, with the devastating potential to affect the health of future generations to come.

Ø Elevated ambient temperature is associated with adverse neonatal outcomes: low birth weight, preterm birth, and stillbirth.

Ø Elevated ambient temperature is associated with adverse maternal outcomes: gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders, maternal stress etc.

Ø Health professionals, especially obstetrics and gynaecologist practitioners have to discuss the health impacts of climate change (extreme heat) with their patients.