Climate change effects on women, maternal and reproductive health outcomes: unraveling the health care system responses

Seminar No. 1193
19 October 2022 Time 12:30-13:30 hrs.

Speaker: Dr. Erlidia (Lee) F. Liamas-Clark

Abstract

Climate change threatened humanity through several ecological disruptions and downstream reproductive and maternal and child health effects that harm the health well-being of the current population and survival of future generations. The physical environmental changes in our atmosphere due to anthropogenic causes expose the global populations to many natural hazards such as typhoons, floods, droughts, heat waves, rising sea levels, and extreme weather events. These natural and combined man-made hazards pose major threats to public health and intensifies the prevailing environmental health disparities in many communities world-wide. Current literature demonstrates the climate-related events impact public health, reproductive health and maternal health outcomes that has implication to human posterity . Studies on climate change and health outcomes relationship are relatively scarce. Prominent professional health organizations have position papers regarding reproductive health and environmental exposures, there has been minimal action within the health care system. The challenge to the health system now us for all health care workers to translate research findings into action oriented pro-active environmental health and clinical medicine strategies. To address the climate crisis, we need to action-oriented approaches to delay the biggest public health challenge to human existence. The objective of this presentation is to highlight the conceptual framework and effects of climate change and the urgent need to address the climate crisis in relation to maternal, child and reproductive health. A whole of society approach is needed with the health care system engaging to have a critical response through the health care providers. They must recognize their intrinsic opportunity as potential leaders in climate action at local, state, national, and international levels by using their positions of influence as public health and climate change advocates who will lead in increasing climate resilience and mitigate climate-related adverse reproductive and maternal and child health outcomes. There is a strong need to build on sustaining this call to action to preserve human existence, health, and well-being.