Abstract
Climate change presents peculiar challenges for people from all walks of life in varied ways. Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable due to the intersection of multiple risk factors which is further complicated by climate change and climate-induced migration. Health professionals are in a unique position in providing care for people no matter their background. There is a paucity of literature focused specifically on the perception of health professionals on the perinatal health of climate/environmental migrants in Ghana. This qualitative study aimed to explore the perception of Ghanaian health professionals on the perinatal health of climate/environmental migrants in Ghana.
A purposive sample of 18 health professionals from two districts of Ghana were interviewed using a semi-structured interview guide. A manifest content analysis of the data revealed six categories of findings: 1) Climate change awareness, 2) Perceived effects of climate migration on perinatal health, 3) Views on access to health services, 4) Barriers to health services, 5) Facilitating care, and 6) Strategies for improvement.
Findings from this study have the potential to inform the education sector, health service planning, and delivery, and policymaking to improve the perinatal health of climate/environmental migrants, in the long term, helping the nation in its steps towards the achievement of SDG 3, target 3.1.