Category
Textual or Investigative
Description
Background: Extreme heat is an emerging issue in public health, given the rise in temperature globally because of climate change. Pregnant women are at risk of being adversely affected by extreme heat, as changes in body physiology during pregnancy compromise its ability to regulate temperature. Recent studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited evidence. This study sought to examine the potential association of extreme heat exposure in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: This study undertakes an investigative review of scientific literature in exploring the association of extreme heat exposure and negative pregnancy outcomes, focusing on tropical and Sub-Saharan African regions. Relevant scientific literature was identified by searching various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost, using keywords like heat exposure, pregnancy, climate change, and birth outcomes. The findings of these studies were synthesized to explore potential maternal health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Results: The results shows that exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy is linked to a high risk of adverse birth outcomes such as pre-term birth and low birth weight. It further shows that maternal heat stress could lead to dehydration, decreased blood flow to the placenta, and physiological stress during pregnancy. In addition, existing evidence suggests that women in resource-poor environments could be more susceptible to the effects of heat exposure due to their occupations and limited access to cooling devices.
Conclusion: Extreme heat exposure might be another environmental risk that has not been fully recognized in the health of mothers and neonates. This is especially the case in places like Sub-Saharan Africa that experience high ambient temperatures. It is imperative that this association be understood in the development of maternal health and climate change adaptation. Future studies on this topic must be conducted using epidemiological data. Keywords: Extreme heat, pregnancy, adverse birth outcomes, climate change, maternal health, Sub-Saharan Africa, preterm birth
Extreme Heat Exposure During Pregnancy and Adverse Birth Outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Textual or Investigative
Background: Extreme heat is an emerging issue in public health, given the rise in temperature globally because of climate change. Pregnant women are at risk of being adversely affected by extreme heat, as changes in body physiology during pregnancy compromise its ability to regulate temperature. Recent studies have shown that exposure to extreme heat is associated with adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth and low birth weight. However, in Sub-Saharan Africa, there is limited evidence. This study sought to examine the potential association of extreme heat exposure in pregnancy with adverse birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Methods: This study undertakes an investigative review of scientific literature in exploring the association of extreme heat exposure and negative pregnancy outcomes, focusing on tropical and Sub-Saharan African regions. Relevant scientific literature was identified by searching various databases, including PubMed, Google Scholar, and EBSCOhost, using keywords like heat exposure, pregnancy, climate change, and birth outcomes. The findings of these studies were synthesized to explore potential maternal health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Results: The results shows that exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy is linked to a high risk of adverse birth outcomes such as pre-term birth and low birth weight. It further shows that maternal heat stress could lead to dehydration, decreased blood flow to the placenta, and physiological stress during pregnancy. In addition, existing evidence suggests that women in resource-poor environments could be more susceptible to the effects of heat exposure due to their occupations and limited access to cooling devices.
Conclusion: Extreme heat exposure might be another environmental risk that has not been fully recognized in the health of mothers and neonates. This is especially the case in places like Sub-Saharan Africa that experience high ambient temperatures. It is imperative that this association be understood in the development of maternal health and climate change adaptation. Future studies on this topic must be conducted using epidemiological data. Keywords: Extreme heat, pregnancy, adverse birth outcomes, climate change, maternal health, Sub-Saharan Africa, preterm birth
