WHO launches heat-risk indicators for pregnant women and children

On 21 October, WHO, WMO, UNICEF and UNFPA launched the first set of priority indicators for tracking the health effects of extreme heat on pregnant women, newborns and children. It is a monitoring and preparedness framework, not a new treatment.

The framework recommends tracking preterm births, stillbirths, low birthweight, pregnancy hypertension, child deaths and health-facility visits during hot periods. School attendance can also reveal disruption to children’s everyday lives.

WHO cites studies associating extreme-heat exposure with a 26% increase in the odds of preterm birth. This is an association observed in studied populations, not an identical risk for every pregnancy. Combining health records with weather data could help identify vulnerable communities and plan warnings and clinical capacity.

Primary source: https://www.who.int/news/item/21-10-2026-new-global-framework-launched-to-track-increasing-health-risks-of-extreme-heat-for-pregnant-women–newborns-and-children. Cover: AI-assisted illustration by Shanraq.