Extreme heat poses a significant risk to pregnant women and their newborns, according to a recent survey of 1,000 healthcare professionals across countries including Brazil, India, and Zimbabwe. Conducted by the Wellcome Foundation, the survey reveals alarming statistics: 73% of maternal healthcare professionals have observed a rise in heat-related complications over the past five years. Additionally, more than three-quarters reported an increase in harm to both fetuses and newborns during the same period.
This research, encompassing insights from Australia and the UK, reinforces a growing body of scientific evidence linking severe heat with adverse pregnancy outcomes, including maternal fatalities and pre-term births. “Nearly every health professional surveyed has treated pregnant women or infants affected by extreme heat,” the report notes, highlighting the urgency of the issue.
The findings were unveiled at a pre-COP summit in Fiji on October 5, where Wellcome made a global call to action concerning the intersection of extreme heat and women’s health, ahead of the anticipated UN climate summit COP31 in Antalya, Türkiye, this November.
‘Invisible Killer’
Julia Gillard, chair of Wellcome and former Prime Minister of Australia, emphasized the pressing need for action: “No woman should have to fear that extreme heat will harm her baby.” She described extreme heat as an “invisible killer,” calling for global leaders to acknowledge and address this crucial health crisis directly affecting expectant mothers.
Among the survey participants, about a quarter reported pregnancy complications believed to be linked to extreme heat that required monitoring or treatment. Notably, over a third mentioned cases of low birth weight, restricted fetal growth, dehydration, and heat-related illnesses in newborns. Concerns about difficulties in feeding, breathing, and regulating body temperature were widespread, underscoring the multi-faceted impact of extreme heat on maternal health.
Over 90% of healthcare professionals expressed a desire for enhanced training and resources to better safeguard pregnant women during heat waves. Wellcome is urging governments to give priority to pregnant women and newborn health in national climate action plans, advocating for targeted measures to mitigate the health risks associated with extreme temperatures.
Low-Cost Solutions
In Zimbabwe, Fortunate Machingura, director of the Wellcome Consortium, spearheads research through the HAPI Zimbabwe project, which aims to implement community-designed interventions reducing heat risks such as dehydration during labor and the threat of pre-term births. The initiative is actively engaging 1,600 women in urban South Africa and rural Zimbabwe.
Some low-cost measures being tested include a heat alert system that sends personalized warnings via smartphones and specialized cooling kits designed to aid hydration and offer protection from the sun. Additionally, reflective roofs are being introduced to help keep buildings cooler. Simpler interventions, like reorganizing family tasks to avoid peak heat hours and involving male “heat champions” to assist with fetching and storing water, are also part of the strategy.
Machingura highlights that practical advice is ineffective if basic necessities like water require extensive travel. The HAPI project engages various community members—families, women’s groups, and traditional leaders—to share the burdens often heaped on women alone.
Record Heat
The urgency of these findings coincides with alarming climate data, such as the Copernicus Earth Observation Programme declaring August 2023 as the joint hottest month ever recorded globally. In India, heatwaves have reached severe levels, with temperatures exceeding 45 degrees Celsius in several regions, further complicating matters for pregnant women.
Neelam Singh, director of the Indian nonprofit Vatsalya, which promotes the health of women and children in Uttar Pradesh, corroborates the survey findings, emphasizing the tangible challenges women face in pregnancy and postpartum periods due to excessive heat. “Heat exacerbates dehydration and exhaustion during pregnancy, along with negatively impacting fetal health and newborn welfare,” she stated.
Moreover, Singh noted that postpartum women encounter additional difficulties related to lactation due to the impacts of heat and dehydration, though comprehensive data on these challenges remain scarce.
Previous studies indicate a critical link between heat and negative pregnancy outcomes. Research published in the journal Environment International suggests that approximately 1.4% of premature births can be attributed to heat during warmer months, which translates to an estimated 855 cases per one million births.
Climate ‘Faultline’
During a ministerial meeting organized by Wellcome in Fiji, Simon Stiell, head of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, remarked that extreme heat is emerging as the “new faultline” in the climate crisis. He reflected on the sobering data from the survey, highlighting the personal stories behind the numbers: an expectant mother delayed on her journey to a clinic by oppressive heat, a midwife laboring under unsafe conditions, and a newborn requiring specialized care further illustrate the far-reaching implications of climate change on maternal health.
Stiell concluded with a grave reminder: “Access to safe childbirth is already often dictated by geography, income, and healthcare availability. Without decisive action, extreme heat will only magnify these disparities.”
This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Global desk.