2 weeks Ago
Rising temperatures due to climate change pose severe health risks for pregnant women and their babies, yet the dangers are frequently underestimated, according to a new Irish study. The study, from Trinity College Dublin, shows that with global temperatures continuing to break records, there is an urgent need for research into the health impacts of climate change. Rising heat exposure increases the risk of pre-term birth (babies born alive before 37 weeks), still birth, low birth weight, hypertension and diabetes in pregnancy, the study found.
There is also the risk of mental illness, infections, congenital anomalies and obstetric complications. The systematic review, covering 23 outcomes in 66 countries across 198 studies, has now been published open-access in Nature Medicine . It found that for every 1C increase in temperature, the chances of pre-term birth rose by 4pc.
During heatwaves, the figure increased by 26pc. When comparing these impacts between high-income and lower-income countries, the study found a 50pc difference in the size of the effect, highlighting the unequal effects of climate change. Rising temperatures were associated with a 28pc higher risk of gestational diabetes and a nearly 50pc increased risk of congenital anomalies.
These are not just percentages, but represent real increases in the number of adverse outcomes, due to heat, with major social and economic impacts. Increases in these illnesses threatens to undo decades of progress in protecting the health of pregnant women and their babies. Professor Matthew Chersich, research fellow at the School of Medicine, Trinity College, and executive director at Wits PHR, said: “Our research provides compelling evidence that heat exposure poses severe health risks for pregnant women and their babies, yet these risks are frequently underestimated, or simply ignored.
“We are failing to uphold our principal oath as public health practitioners: to protect the well-being of the most vulnerable. It is time for a public health response to this public health emergency.” The researchers said a definitive and robust picture of the impacts of heat exposure on maternal and newborn health has been missing.
The review concluded that “the time for negotiation is finished; it is now time to act. Although vulnerable groups in the Global South are most affected by rising heat, this is a crisis that affects everyone. “Our results are reported relative to the average temperature, so whether we’re looking at Ireland or Spain, the increase of 1.
5C due to climate change is already having an effect.” Lead author, Dr Darshnika Lakhoo, a research clinician at Wits PHR, said: “This is a pivotal moment for public health and climate action. “Protecting the health of pregnant women and newborns must become a priority in our response to climate change.
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