WHO warns of rising heat risks for mothers and children amid record heatwave days
WHO, WMO, UNICEF and UNFPA launch first set of priority indicators to track heat impacts on pregnant women, newborns and children.
In Brief
- •WHO, WMO, UNICEF and UNFPA launch first set of priority indicators to track heat impacts on pregnant women, newborns and children.
- •Exposure to extreme heat raises odds of preterm birth by 26% and has led to 389% more heatwave days for infants in 2024 versus 1986‑2005 baseline.
- •An estimated 1.5 billion children worldwide face increasingly frequent, longer or more severe heatwaves.
- •Indicators include preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy hypertension, child deaths, health‑facility visits and school attendance.
Why It Matters
The findings underscore how climate‑driven heatwaves are turning into a public health crisis for the most vulnerable, especially pregnant women and young children. By equipping countries with concrete, data‑driven indicators, WHO aims to enable timely interventions, strengthen health‑system preparedness and ultimately reduce heat‑related morbidity and mortality.
Key Details
- Preterm birth risk increase
- 26%
- Heatwave days increase for infants (2024 vs baseline)
- 389%
- Children exposed to heatwaves worldwide
- 1.5 billion
- Indicators launched by WHO, WMO, UNICEF, UNFPA
- preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy hypertension, child deaths, health‑facility visits, school attendance
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