Protecting pregnant women from environmental change
The physiological and social demands of pregnancy are immense. A period of transformation that tests a woman's body and resilience in profound ways. Yet, this time of vulnerability also offers an unparalleled opportunity to understand and improve women's health across the life course. Environmental change including rising temperatures, air and water pollution, and extreme weather events is now emerging as a major stressor during this critical life stage, shaping both immediate pregnancy outcomes and long-term health trajectories for mothers and their children.
Women and girls are disproportionately affected by environmental hazards. Biological factors such as hormonal and thermoregulatory changes interact with entrenched social and economic inequities --- limited access to healthcare, insecure housing, unpaid care responsibilities, and occupational exposures --- to heighten risk. For pregnant women in particular, exposure to extreme heat has been linked to complications such as preterm birth, low birthweight, and stillbirth. Similarly, chronic exposure to air pollution increases the risk of hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and adverse neonatal outcomes. These effects do not end with delivery: maternal complications associated with environmental stressors often translate into elevated risks of non-communicable diseases and intergenerational health inequities.
Fortunately, pregnancy is also one of the few periods when most women, even in resource-limited settings, have regular contact with health systems. This makes it a powerful entry point for identifying environmental and social risk factors, integrating screening for early warning signs, and developing interventions that can improve women's health across the life course.
At The George Institute for Global Health, the Women's Health Program brings together interdisciplinary researchers and global collaborators to better understand and address the gendered health impacts of environmental change. Our work spans discovery science, community partnerships, and policy engagement, with the goal of ensuring that women's voices and lived experiences shape the climate and health agenda. Our work includes:
1. Heat in Pregnancy (HiP) Study - India
A multi-site investigation into how extreme heat affects maternal and newborn outcomes. Conducted in Bilaspur, Gurugram, and Puducherry, the study integrates retrospective and prospective analyses with in-depth qualitative research to understand how women experience and cope with heat stress during pregnancy.
2. Air Pollution and Pregnancy Outcomes - London
Explores the relationship between environmental exposures and maternal health. Working with the iCare team, the study aims to link environmental and clinical datasets to quantify risk and identify preventive opportunities for pregnant women exposed to high pollution levels.
3. Women in National Climate Adaptation Plans - Global
A cross-country policy analysis examining how women's health, wellbeing, and welfare are incorporated into national climate adaptation strategies. The findings highlight opportunities for more gender-responsive and equitable climate policies.
4. Sex Differences in Climate-Related Mortality - Global
Investigates whether and how climate stressors, particularly extreme heat, affect mortality differently in men and women. Data extraction is underway, with publication planned for 2025.
5. Menstrual Hygiene Project - India
Implements a comprehensive, community-based model that combines awareness-raising, quantitative surveys, gynaecological consultations, and medical camps. The project also distributes menstrual hygiene kits, improving both awareness and access among women in low-resource settings.
6. SHECAN (Strengthening Health Equity through Climate Action Networks)
Builds partnerships across Australia, the Pacific, and the UK to develop collaborative approaches to protect women's health from the impacts of climate change. The network promotes equitable research, capacity building, and policy engagement.
7. RCOG - Scientific Impact Project
A partnership with the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) focused on advancing scientific understanding and advocacy around women's environmental health, integrating climate and gender considerations into reproductive health research and practice.
