DOI: 10.22391/fppc.1846493 ISSN: 2458-8865

Climate change and health in primary care: a systematic review

Nafiye Ebru Terzi
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Introduction: Climate change affects health systems in multifaceted ways; particularly, it introduces new areas of responsibility within primary health care services. This study aims to systematically examine scientific publications that address the health impacts of climate change from a primary care perspective, identify thematic trends, and reveal existing gaps.Methods: In this systematic review, conducted in line with PRISMA 2020 principles, publications from 2020 to 2025 containing themes related to primary health care services were examined. Following a comprehensive search in the Scopus, PubMed, and Google Scholar databases, 76 publications that met the inclusion criteria were analyzed. The studies were thematically classified and their distribution by year was assessed. Relevance, content, and accessibility filters were operationally predefined to ensure methodological transparency and to standardize study selection based on primary care applicability, eligibility criteria, and full-text availability.Results: The most frequently discussed themes among the reviewed publications were infectious diseases (n=15), general public health impacts (n=18), and mental health (n=12). A more limited number of studies were found in areas such as women's health, health systems, socioeconomic inequalities, and occupational health. A noticeable increase in the number of publications was observed in 2023 and 2024; however, studies specifically focusing on primary care services remain limited within the current literature.Conclusion: This review demonstrates the need to address the health effects of climate change through comprehensive approaches at the primary care level. Primary health care services occupy a strategic position in terms of preventive practices, early diagnosis, and reaching vulnerable groups. However, the existing literature reveals a lack of focused studies in this context. The findings point to a need for more research on policy development and implementation models specific to primary care in order to build health systems resilient to the climate crisis. Strengthening evidence-based approaches in primary care is essential for climate-resilient and sustainable health systems.

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