Environmental nursing: Recovering the link with the reproductive health

Abstract

The periconcepcional and prenatal periods, as well as breastfeeding and breeding periods, constitute the most important windows of vulnerability for environmental exposures. Midwifes and nurses have an specific and insight regarding the duality of health and illness. They are strategic health professionals to develop the environmental health approach during these vulnerable periods of life. International institutions and nursery asociations urge nurse professionals to recognise environmental risk factors (physicochemical, biologic and psychosocial) and to promotives factors in communities, during pregnancy and childhood. There are environmental health experiences, such as the use of “Green Page questionnaire” during the reproductive environmenral health assessment. This questionnaire is a sistematic screening that promotes healthier lifestyles. Incresing the general awareness about environmental health as well as health professionals further education have a positive impact in pregnancies, their offspring, families and communities in a broader perspective.