Climate-Induced Infectious Diseases and Maternal-Infant Health: A Review of Global Inequities and Systemic Barriers

Climate change, driven primarily by fossil fuel use and associated carbon emissions, is creating a less safe and unwell environment for all life on our planet (Morello-Frosch & Obasogie, 2023). Rising sea levels, drought, heat waves, more intense hurricanes and flooding, and disruptions to energy and food production are becoming increasingly common. While there is growing empirical evidence that climate stressors directly influence maternal and infant health outcomes, less is known about how climate-induced events—particularly the high prevalence of infectious diseases—interact with sociopolitical systems to contribute to adverse maternal, infant, and reproductive health challenges (Conway et al., 2024). There is a pressing need to examine the mechanisms by which climate-induced infectious diseases intersect with systemic social barriers and healthcare access challenges across different countries for better climate policies. The purpose of this scoping review is to explore the impact of climate-induced diseases on maternal and infant health outcomes and to investigate how exposure to these risks interacts with social barriers to influence maternal and infant health. We searched nine databases and screened 11,817 articles, ultimately including 16 peer-reviewed studies in the final sample.

Our findings indicate that the Global South is disproportionately affected by climate-induced infectious diseases and associated maternal-infant health risks. In regions such as Africa, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, rising temperatures are linked to shifts in vector-borne diseases like malaria and dengue, leading to increased rates of preterm birth, low birth weight, and maternal complications (Cameron et al., 2021; MacVicar et al., 2017; McMichael, 2015; Watt and Chamberlain, 2011). Poor sanitation and unsafe water, particularly in low-income urban areas, contribute to the spread of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid (Cameron et al., 2021; McMichael, 2015). These effects are compounded by inadequate infrastructure, limited access to healthcare, and systemic discrimination in the distribution of resources. In the Global North, studies from the United States show that air pollution—particularly exposure to nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)—is associated with increased respiratory complications in neonates and greater maternal stress (Jones et al., 2023). Environmental stressors also facilitate the transmission of infectious diseases and intensify mental health challenges for pregnant people (Veenema et al.,2023). Social determinants such as poverty, racial discrimination, language barriers, and limited healthcare access further exacerbate risks for marginalized populations, particularly women of color (Jones et al., 2023; Veenema et al.,2023).

Across all contexts, systemic barriers—such as insufficient infrastructure, financial constraints, and educational disparities—consistently undermine the ability of pregnant individuals to adapt to climate-related health threats. Vulnerable populations, especially in low- and middle-income countries, face compounded burdens from disease transmission and under-resourced healthcare systems. This review underscores the urgent need for integrated, intersectional strategies that address both ecological risks and the social conditions shaping maternal and infant health. These findings highlight the importance of including reproductive justice and health equity in climate adaptation and public health planning.