article · PLOS Global Public Health
Climate change creates distinct risks for maternal health, raising the likelihood of complications during pregnancy and childbirth worldwide. A systematic evidence gap map synthesised 133 studies, including qualitative, quantitative, review, and grey literature, to examine these effects in women aged 15 to 45. Critical appraisal classified 47 of the included studies as high quality, 79 as moderate quality, and seven as low quality. The mapping revealed substantial geographical disparities in existing literature, with research heavily concentrated in North America and Asia, whilst Africa and the Caribbean remain significantly underrepresented. Furthermore, although extreme heat has received considerable attention, other climate hazards such as drought remain understudied. Similarly, outcomes like preterm birth, stillbirth, and maternal mortality are commonly investigated, whereas malnutrition and food insecurity indicators are frequently neglected.
Rising global temperatures and shifting weather patterns directly threaten the safety of pregnancy and childbirth. By charting where evidence exists and where it is missing, this work guides researchers, funders, and policymakers toward neglected areas. Understanding these gaps ensures health resources, targeted interventions, and climate policies can be directed to the most vulnerable regions and overlooked health indicators.
The abstract does not indicate an application pathway for commercialisation, as it is an evidence gap review highlighting research needs for policy and future study.
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Climate change poses unique challenges to maternal well-being and increases complications during pregnancy and childbirth globally. This evidence gap map (EGM) aims to identify gaps in existing knowledge and areas where further research related to climate change and its impact on maternal health is required. The following databases were searched individually from inception to present: Medline, EMBASE, and Global Health via OVID; Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL) via EBSCOhost; Scopus; and organizational websites. In this EGM, we integrated 133 studies published in English, including qualitative, quantitative, reviews and grey literature that examined the impact of climate change on maternal health (women aged 15-45). We used Covidence to screen studies and Evidence for Policy and Practice Information (Eppi reviewer)/Eppi Mapper software to generate the EGM. Data extraction and qualitative appraisal of the studies was done using critical appraisal tools. The study protocol was registered in International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-analysis Protocols (INPLASY) # INPLASY202370085. Out of 133 included studies, forty seven studies were of high quality, seventy nine moderate equality and seven low quality. This EGM found notable gaps in the literature regarding the distribution of research across regions. We found significant research in North America (51) and Asia (40 studies). However, Africa and the Caribbean had fewer studies, highlighting potential disparities in research attention and resources. Moreover, while the impact of extreme heat emerged as a prominent factor impacting maternal well-being, there is a need for further investigation into other climate-related factors such as drought. Additionally, while preterm stillbirth and maternal mortality have gained attention, there is an overlook of malnutrition and food insecurity indicators that require attention in future research. The EGM identifies existing research gaps in climate change and maternal health. It emphasizes the need for global collaboration and targeted interventions to address disparities and inform climate-responsive policies.
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DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0003540
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