Centre for Participatory Research and Development (CPRD), in collaboration with HEKS/EPER, organized a national consultation titled “Assessing the Impact of Climate Change on the Reproductive Health of Coastal Women and Adolescent Girls” on 3 June 2025 at the BRAC Centre Inn, Dhaka. The event brought together public health professionals, clinicians, academics, journalists, and youth representatives to provide expert insights and cross-sectoral perspectives for an ongoing research initiative addressing climate-induced reproductive health issues in Bangladesh’s coastal regions.
Field Context and Emerging Concerns
CPRD presented initial field observations from a February 2025 visit to Gabura, Shinghortoli, and Datinakhali in Shyamnagar Upazila, Satkhira—communities severely impacted by salinity intrusion, freshwater scarcity, and limited healthcare access. These stressors have contributed to:
- Increased menstrual irregularities
- A notably high prevalence of thalassemia
- Frequent reports of low birth weight among newborns
The consultation highlighted how the intersecting impacts of climate change are shaping the reproductive health landscape for women and adolescent girls in these frontline communities.
Expert Recommendations
Participants proposed a series of methodological and programmatic recommendations to strengthen the study design and its relevance:
- Conduct comparative studies between saline-affected and unaffected regions to clarify associations between environmental factors and reproductive health. Heatwaves and other climatic variables were also recommended for investigation.
- Use cross-sectional or case series study designs, incorporating random or multi-stage clustered sampling to ensure robust, representative data.
- Develop clear operational definitions to guide participant selection and maintain methodological consistency.
- Maintain ongoing engagement with reproductive health specialists and statistical experts to reinforce the technical rigor of the research.
- Several civil society organizations (CSOs) expressed their interest in supporting the research and contributing to policy advocacy around the findings.
Expert Contributions
The event featured thought-provoking contributions from:
- Mahbub Alam, Country Director, Pathfinder International
- Fatema Showkat Jahan Rozy, Senior Deputy Director, Partners in Health and Development (PHD)
- Dr. Md. Mahbubul Alam, Head of Programs, Population Services and Training Center (PSTC)
- Dr. Sumaiyah Tasneem, practicing gynecologist, who stressed the urgent need to address the neglected reproductive health concerns of women in hard-to-reach climate-vulnerable areas
The consultation culminated in an in-depth intervention by Prof. Dr. Iqbal Kabir, Director and Coordinator of the Climate Change and Health Promotion Unit (CCHPU) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). He provided extensive feedback on the proposed research design, suggested key methodological refinements, and encouraged stronger institutional coordination moving forward.
Closing Reflections
The event concluded with closing remarks from Md. Shamsuddoha, Chief Executive of CPRD, thanked participants for their valuable insights and reaffirmed CPRD’s commitment to advancing rights-based, evidence-informed research. He emphasized that the reproductive health of coastal women and girls must be seen as a climate justice issue, warranting urgent attention in both research and policy agendas.
