Heat exposure has an adverse effect on the health of pregnant women and newborns which is affecting timely access and utilisation of health services, particularly in rural communities in sub-Saharan Africa, according to a study conducted by the Climate Health and Maternal Neonatal Health Africa (CHAMNHA) project in Kaloleni and Rabai sub-counties in Kilifi County between February and April 2021.
The study indicates that during pregnancy, delivery and in the post-partum period, pregnant women and their newborns are affected by extreme heat at the individual, household and community levels.
Speaking during the UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26), Dr Adelaide Lusambili, assistant professor in the Department of Population Health at AKU’s Medical College in East Africa said: “At the individual level, heat causes anxiety and diminishes pregnant women’s ability to perform basic activities of daily life. At the household level, women and their newborns face the intensity of heat from unventilated houses, which aggravates the effects of dust and indoor pollution from cooking, interrupts sleep and makes infant feeding challenging.”
Indoor heat and pollution are also believed to increase chronic illnesses among pregnant mothers and their newborns.
“At the community level, extreme heat may cause pregnant women to remain in their homes for fear of walking in the heat, thereby affecting their social relations and reducing attendance at both the antenatal and post-partum services,” added Dr Lusambili.
The CHAMNHA study further highlights that poor access to clean water sources in these settings deepens women’s vulnerability to the effects of extreme heat. The negative impact on access to water, food security and environmental pressures asserts an additional burden on these vulnerable women.
A number of interventions that can mitigate the challenges posed by heat exposure for pregnant women and newborns include increased natural ventilation and cooling interventions in labour wards and community settings, prioritisation of hydration during labour, targeted educational interventions to raise awareness and the consequences of heat stress, and the setting of specific heat-warning plans for pregnant women and newborns.
This year’s UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26) engaged grassroots representatives, researchers, development practitioners and policymakers from all over the world to discuss how to build a climate-resilient future for all.
