Climate Change, Sustainability, and Reproductive Health: A Mixed-Methods Study
Integrating Family Planning into Climate Adaptation: A Mixed-Methods Study from Flood-Affected Districts of South Punjab, Pakistan
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Background: Climate change increasingly threatens human health, especially in vulnerable regions like South Punjab, Pakistan. However, its effects on reproductive health and family planning remain underexplored. This study investigated how climate change shapes reproductive health behaviors and family planning decisions in Dera Ghazi Khan and Layyah districts after the 2022 floods.
Methods: Using a mixed-methods design, the study collected data from January to March 2023. Eighty-seven participants were purposively sampled. Quantitative surveys measured climate change awareness, contraceptive use, and reproductive intentions post-flood. Qualitative interviews explored cultural and social factors influencing family planning decisions. SPSS was used for quantitative analysis, and NVivo supported qualitative thematic analysis.
Results: While participants showed moderate awareness of climate change impacts on health, few reported changing reproductive behavior. Only 28% adjusted contraceptive use or reproductive plans due to environmental concerns. Qualitative findings revealed key barriers, including strong cultural norms, lack of eco-friendly contraceptive options, and limited provider counseling. Both districts highlighted the dominance of short-term survival concerns over long-term environmental considerations.
Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgent need to integrate climate resilience into reproductive health programs. Priorities include environmental education in family planning services, access to sustainable contraceptives, and community engagement. Broader policy reforms and cross-sector collaboration are essential to address the intertwined challenges of climate change, health, and sustainability.
Keywords: Climate change, reproductive health, family planning, sustainability.
Article Details
Copyright (c) 2025 Mir JN, et al.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
Muhammad Akbar Rashid
Independent Clinical Researcher, Healthcare manager, Public Health Scholar
1. Romanello M, Di Napoli C, Drummond P, Hughes N, Jamart L, et al. The 2021 report of the Lancet Countdown on health and climate change. Lancet. 2021;398(10311):1619-1662. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(21)01787-6/fulltext
2. Mahmood S, Farooq MA, Khan N. Pakistan floods and public health challenges: A wake-up call. Lancet. 2023;401(10371):27-28.
3. Hardee K, Mutunga C, Berstein S, Jalal H. Population and climate change in Pakistan: Integrating family planning and adaptation. Washington (DC): Population Reference Bureau. 2012.
4. McMichael AJ. Globalization, climate change, and human health. N Engl J Med. 2013;368(14):1335-1343. Available from: https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMra1109341
5. Patz JA, Campbell-Lendrum D, Holloway T, Foley JA. Impact of regional climate change on human health. Nature. 2005;438(7066):310-317. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/nature04188
6. Ali S, Hussain A, Khan F. Post-flood health crises in Pakistan: Lessons from the 2022 disaster. Asian J Public Health. 2023;8(1):12-20.
7. Kabir A, Khan MMH, Ball E. Women’s reproductive health and climate change. J Clim Change Health. 2019;1(1):100005.
8. Leach M, Raworth K, Rockström J. Between social and planetary boundaries: Navigating pathways in the safe and just space for humanity. In: World Social Science Report. Paris: UNESCO; 2013. Available from: https://unesdoc.unesco.org/ark:/48223/pf0000246073
9. Grace K. Considering climate in studies of fertility and reproductive health in poor countries. Nat Clim Chang. 2017;7(7):479-485. Available from: https://www.nature.com/articles/nclimate3318
10. Bongaarts J, O’Neill BC. Global warming policy: Population and climate change. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2018;115(31):7322-7326.
11. Bryant L, Carver L, Butler CD, Anage A. Climate change and family planning: Least-developed countries define the agenda. Bull World Health Organ. 2009;87(11):852-857. Available from: https://www.who.int/publications/journals/bulletin-of-the-world-health-organization
12. Biermann F, Boas I. Global adaptation governance: Setting the stage. Glob Environ Polit. 2010;10(3):1-11. Available from: https://research.wur.nl/en/publications/global-adaptation-governance-setting-the-stage
13. Cohen B, Kravdal Ø. The impact of local environmental conditions on fertility in sub-Saharan Africa. Popul Environ. 1995;16(3):279-294.
14. Whitmee S, Haines A, Beyrer C, Boltz F, Capon AG, de Souza Dias BF, et al. Safeguarding human health in the Anthropocene epoch. Lancet. 2015;386(10007):1973-2028. Available from: https://www.thelancet.com/journals/lancet/article/PIIS0140-6736(15)60901-1
15. United Nations Population Fund. Climate change and sexual and reproductive health rights. New York (NY): UNFPA. 2021.
16. Creswell JW, Plano Clark VL. Designing and conducting mixed methods research. 3rd ed. Thousand Oaks (CA): SAGE Publications; 2017. Available from: https://bayanbox.ir/view/236051966444369258/9781483344379-Designing-and-Conducting-Mixed-Methods-Research-3e.pdf
17. World Health Organization. Reproductive health indicators: Guidelines for their generation, interpretation, and analysis. Geneva: WHO Press. 2006. Available from: https://digitallibrary.un.org/record/620451?ln=en
18. Hunter LM, Menken J. Climate change and migration: Considering the gender dimensions. Environ Res Lett. 2016;11(3):035001. Available from: https://www.climove.eu/uploads/1/0/8/2/108297113/climate_change_and_migration_considering_the_gende.pdf
19. Guzmán JM, Martine G, McGranahan G, Schensul D, Tacoli C. Population dynamics and climate change. New York (NY): UNFPA; 2009. Available from: https://www.unfpa.org/sites/default/files/resource-pdf/pop_dynamics_climate_change_0.pdf
20. Ghimire A. Beyond doctors and hospitals: Nepal's Female Community Health Volunteer model—A new paradigm for global health. Front Public Health. 2025. Available from: https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1587360