WHO, UN agencies set indicators to track heat risks for mothers and children
In many parts of the world, rising temperatures are contributing to a growing range of health problems. Against this backdrop, the World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNICEF and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) have introduced the first set of priority indicators to help countries monitor the health effects of extreme heat on pregnant women, newborns and children.
The framework aims to improve preparedness, monitoring and response to protect these groups from climate-related health risks. Evidence shows that exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy can increase the odds of preterm birth by 26%. Infants are also facing greater exposure, with babies under one year old experiencing 389% more heatwave days in 2024 than during the 1986–2005 baseline period. Globally, an estimated 1.5 billion children are exposed to heatwaves that are becoming more frequent, longer or more severe.
Bruce Gordon, Acting Director of WHO’s Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration, said health systems need reliable data to recognize the growing health risks from rising temperatures and take appropriate action. This includes protecting people during heatwaves and incorporating climate risks into routine health services. The new report recommends that countries monitor preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy-related hypertension, child deaths and visits to health facilities during periods of extreme heat. School attendance records can also show how high temperatures disrupt children’s daily lives.
Dr Pascale Allotey, Director of WHO’s Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing, said tracking these health outcomes alongside heat exposure would allow countries to identify potential effects and take measures to protect women and children. Combining routine health records with temperature data can also aid authorities to spot unusual changes during extreme heat, investigate possible links and respond accordingly.
These findings can guide health authorities in preparing facilities for increased demand, issuing heat warnings to pregnant women and families, identifying the most exposed communities and improving heat-health planning. WHO is urging countries to use the new indicators to identify risks and target protective measures, as well as develop and implement heat-health action plans suited to local conditions. These plans should account for the needs of pregnant women, newborns and children, improve early warning systems and trigger timely responses when heat risks arise.
Category: Education
