How Climate Change May Threaten Progress in Neonatal Health in the African Region

Abstract Climate change is likely to have wide-ranging impacts on maternal and neonatal health in Africa. Populations in low-resource settings already experience adverse impacts from weather extremes, a high burden of disease from environmental exposures, and limited access to high-quality clinical...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Neonatology (Basel, Switzerland) Switzerland), 2022-10, Vol.119 (5), p.644-651
Main Authors: Nakstad, Britt, Filippi, Veronique, Lusambili, Adelaide, Roos, Nathalie, Scorgie, Fiona, Chersich, Matthew F., Luchters, Stanley, Kovats, Sari
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Architectural design
Architecture, Domestic
Breast feeding
Dehydration (Physiology)
Development and progression
Disease transmission
Food supply
Global Neonatal Research
Global temperature changes
Greenhouse gases
Infants
Infants (Newborn)
Medicin och hälsovetenskap
Patient outcomes
Physiological aspects
Urban heat islands
Weather
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Summary:Abstract Climate change is likely to have wide-ranging impacts on maternal and neonatal health in Africa. Populations in low-resource settings already experience adverse impacts from weather extremes, a high burden of disease from environmental exposures, and limited access to high-quality clinical care. Climate change is already increasing local temperatures. Neonates are at high risk of heat stress and dehydration due to their unique metabolism, physiology, growth, and developmental characteristics. Infants in low-income settings may have little protection against extreme heat due to housing design and limited access to affordable space cooling. Climate change may increase risks to neonatal health from weather disasters, decreasing food security, and facilitating infectious disease transmission. Effective interventions to reduce risks from the heat include health education on heat risks for mothers, caregivers, and clinicians; nature-based solutions to reduce urban heat islands; space cooling in health facilities; and equitable improvements in housing quality and food systems. Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are essential to reduce the long-term impacts of climate change that will further undermine global health strategies to reduce neonatal mortality.
ISSN:1661-7800
1661-7819
1661-7819
DOI:10.1159/000525573