Maternal and neonatal health in crises and disasters: a review

Background: Over ۴۰۰ natural disasters cause economic losses of at least $۵۰ million and damage ۲۰۰۰ homes worldwide yearly. Although the impact of disasters on pregnancy and newborns has been studied, the cause of adverse outcomes is not always clear. Disasters expose individuals to pollutants, stress, and lack of health care, and affect social factors. This review analyzes disasters' short-term and long-term effects on pregnancy and how they are mediated. Disasters can lead to displacement, changes in family structure, lack of access to health care, and increased stress. Vulnerable groups, especially low-income communities and minorities, are more vulnerable to harm. This study aimed to examine the health status of mothers and newborns in crises. Materials and Methods: In this review, scientific literature was searched with the keywords health and wellness, mother and newborn, and disasters and crises in Google scholar, PubMed, Irandoc, Jihad Daneshgah Database (SID), and the Iranian Journals Database (Magiran). Findings: This study describes the impact of disasters on maternal and newborn health in various dimensions. Disasters can not only directly affect access to health services but also lead to psychological and social stress that affects the health of individuals. For this reason, the need for comprehensive approaches and intersectoral cooperation is crucial, especially during crises and disasters. This collaboration can include health, social, and other organizations to ensure that the needs of mothers and newborns are met effectively and efficiently. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that disasters have profound and complex impacts on maternal and newborn health, and managing these impacts requires comprehensive approaches.

کلیدواژه ها:

Health ، mother and newborn ، disasters and crises