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How Climate Change May Threaten Progress In Neonatal Health In The African Region, Britt Nakstad, Veronique Filippi, Adelaide Lusambili, Nathalie Roos, Fiona Scorgie, Matthew F. Chersich, Stanley Luchters, Sari Kovats

Institute for Human Development

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 …