Assessing the impact of climate change on reproductive health: A content analysis of climate journalism coverage

Bharath R. Yuvaraj, Vaageessan Masilamani, M. Saravanan, Harie Karthikeyan, Fenn Moses, A Abraham, Ravi P. Kumar, Manjula K

Abstract

This research explores the intricate relationship between climate change and reproductive health through an analysis of 1000 global news articles from 2018 onwards. Utilizing Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), key topics in media coverage are identified, encompassing fertility challenges, pregnancy complications, infectious diseases, maternal and infant health in disasters, gender based violence, healthcare access inequities, mental health impacts, and food security issues. Findings reveal an uneven distribution of coverage across continents, with potential language bias in English-dominated sources. Acknowledging limitations, future research directions emphasize a more inclusive approach, incorporating diverse linguistic perspectives and qualitative exploration of community experiences. The study underscores the imperative for global representation in media discourse and advocates for comprehensive, evidence-based strategies to address the complex interplay between climate change and reproductive health.

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