UN Agencies Launch Heat Risk Indicators for Mothers & Children

Extreme heat is increasingly threatening the health of pregnant women, newborns and children, prompting four United Nations agencies to launch the first set of priority indicators to monitor its impact. Introduced on October 21, the framework aims to help countries identify emerging health risks, strengthen healthcare preparedness and respond quickly when temperatures reach dangerous levels.

The World Health Organization (WHO), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), UNICEF and United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) jointly developed the indicators to help health authority’s link heat exposure data with health outcomes reported in clinics, maternity wards and communities. The accompanying report offers guidance for improving protection for vulnerable groups whose specific needs may be overlooked in broader heat-response plans.

Research cited in the announcement indicates that exposure to extreme heat is associated with a 26% increase in the odds of preterm birth. The findings highlight growing concerns about the effects of rising temperatures on maternal and child health and the need for better monitoring, early intervention and targeted healthcare measures.

Key Highlights:

• UN agencies launched indicators to track extreme heat impacts on maternal and child health
• Heatwave days for babies under one year rose by 389% in 2024 compared with the 1986–2005 baseline
• The indicators will help countries improve early warnings and protect vulnerable groups

There were 389% more heatwave days for babies under 1 year (2024) than during the baseline period (1986-2005). The UN agencies' announcement estimates that 1.5 billion children across the world are facing heatwaves that are becoming more frequent, longer and stronger.

Those most vulnerable to these risks include older age groups, pregnant women, newborns and children said Bruce Gordon, Acting Director of WHO's Department of Environment, Climate Change, One Health and Migration. He urged health systems to leverage data to safeguard people during heatwaves, and to incorporate climate risks into their routine health care.

The report suggests the monitoring of the following: preterm birth, stillbirths, low birth weight, high blood pressure in pregnancy, mortality of children, and health facility visits during extreme heat. School attendance is another helpful indicator which can help inform stakeholders on the impact of hot weather on children's daily life and education.

These records can be compared with data on heat exposure (such as air temperatures) to look for some unusual changes that should be investigated further. Patterns may identify a possible relationship with heat, and may be used to determine the location of additional investigation or protective measures.

WHO's Director of the Department of Sexual, Reproductive, Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health and Ageing Dr Pascale Allotey said that such impacts should be brought to light.

However, what health systems don't count, they can't react to, she said. Monitoring birth and death rates, disease prevalence, and visits to health facilities in conjunction with heat exposure provides a more complete picture of potential impacts to women and children and helps to guide decisions regarding where help is needed the most.

The information can assist health authorities in getting ready for the surge in demand, intensifying warnings for pregnant women and families and pinpoint communities at highest risk. It also can support decision making regarding resource allocation and enhancements to local heat-health planning.

WHO is calling on countries to strengthen their capacity to track these impacts and create heat-health action plans that are tailored to their local need. Those plans must address the needs of pregnant women, newborns and children, and bolster early warning systems that would enable prompt action when dangerous heat is in the near future.

As extreme heat enters the everyday experience of the population, the use of the indicators on a regular basis can assist governments to identify emerging risks and direct action to avoid harm.