Equitable research at the intersection of severe weather events and maternal–infant health: a rapid review

Background Climate change exacerbates existing health inequities, disproportionately impacting marginalized communities, particularly pregnant individuals and newborns. While existing research documents the effects of climate change, and particularly, severe weather events on perinatal and infant health, the specific focus on marginalized communities and the mechanism of this marginalization remains unclear. By centering the experiences of marginalized populations, the objective of this review is to identify literature gaps in the United States and contribute to a more nuanced understanding of the complex interplay between severe weather events, inequities, and perinatal-infant health. Methods Rapid review methodology was utilized to search for literature in PubMed and Google Scholar. The research question focused on pregnant persons, maternal, perinatal, and neonatal health outcomes after a severe weather event, explicitly describing disparities by highlighting vulnerable and marginalized populations. Results Seventeen relevant papers were identified and reviewed for themes. Most articles evaluated disparate impacts of severe weather events by race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, or location. Although all included articles revealed a linkage between severe weather events and the exacerbation of perinatal health inequities, the analysis revealed gaps that have significant implications for future research and practice. Conclusion A series of recommendations for application emerged in our review, including: (1) Utilize Consistent Terminology; (2) Capture Healthcare Utilization, Disaster Response, and Recovery Data; (3) Center Intersectional, Marginalized Communities in Research; (4) Incorporate Transdisciplinary Lenses; and (5) Provide Historical and Contemporary Contexts of Inequitable Infrastructure. These recommendations could inform and support future research to further promote health equity.