Mapping multilevel adaptation response to protect maternal and child health from climate change impacts: A scoping review

Anthropogenic climate change attributed increases in air pollution, rising temperatures, and extreme weather events are linked to a higher risk of adverse pregnancy and birth outcomes, necessitating interventions to protect maternal and child health. This scoping review mapped multilevel adaptation strategies implemented to protect maternal and child health from climate change effects. Eighteen unique adaptation strategies we identified included educational interventions, risk communication, air purifiers, air cleaning strategies, nutrition supplementation, cash transfer, employment guarantee scheme, community health worker program, chemoprophylaxis, insecticide-treated nests, home and environmental remediation, and bioethanol cooking fuel. Our findings suggest that these adaptation strategies are generally nonspecific and fail to address the specialized needs and unique health risks faced by pregnant women and young children. Prioritizing the involvement of pregnant women, mothers of young children and local healthcare services in developing tailored adaptation interventions is crucial to support climate change adaptation, resilience, and reducing maternal and child health risks.