Extreme heat, perinatal mental health and early infant care: the overlooked climate threat in low-resource settings

Abstract Climate change is reshaping pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum life across tropical and climate-vulnerable regions through extreme heat, flooding, displacement and food insecurity. These stressors increase obstetric complications, yet their impact on perinatal mental health remains largely invisible in climate adaptation plans. Untreated depression, anxiety and trauma hinder bonding, breast feeding and infant survival and can be passed through generations, but mental health remains underfunded in climate-resilient health planning. Integrating psychosocial care into maternal services can prevent intergenerational harm. Protecting mothers’ mental health is not a luxury; it is a foundation of equitable climate resilience.