Principal Investigator: Dr. Jai K Das

Co-PI: 

Funded by: Wellcome Trust

Project duration: Ongoing

Project sites: Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan and Tharparkar Sindh, Pakistan

This cohort study examines how extreme heat exposure and thermal stress influence maternal, fetal, and newborn health in climate-vulnerable regions of Sindh. By integrating existing clinical datasets with prospective follow-up of pregnant women, the project seeks to characterize biological vulnerability to heat and identify the pathways through which high temperatures contribute to adverse health outcomes. Environmental exposure will be objectively assessed using compact, multiuse temperature and humidity recorders (Temp U-03), which monitor temperatures ranging from −30 °C to +60 °C and relative humidity levels from 0–100% RH. These USB data loggers can store up to 32,000 readings and automatically generate PDF and CSV reports when connected to a computer, enabling efficient data capture without the need for specialized software. The study further explores environmental, demographic, occupational, and nutritional factors that may interact with heat exposure, generating evidence to guide public health strategies aimed at protecting pregnant women and infants in increasingly warming environments.​