Abstract: As time passes, climate change will continue to pose an even bigger threat to people’s wellbeing globally. When it comes to the intersection between climate change and health, most research is done on the increasing pressures of food insecurity and vector-borne diseases, but less is known about how heat exposure directly affects health outcomes. On top of that, the effects of heat exposure on vulnerable populations, like pregnant women and neonates are less discussed. Because pregnant women and developing fetuses are extremely susceptible to external conditions, the impact of heat must be noted. Unlike normal healthy people, pregnant women’s ability to regulate heat is lessened, because their body surface area is reduced. As a result, they are more likely to get dehydrated. Researchers and scientists around the world are attempting to evaluate the association between heat events and pregnancy-related health outcomes. This exploratory literature review presents the findings from a few articles from different databases. Epidemiological studies have shown a link between exposure to high temperatures, and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and congenital heart defects. Among pregnant women, extreme heat exposure affects various subgroups differently. Teenage mothers, Black mothers, and lower SES women will face a greater impact. In order to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures on this vulnerable population, several recommendations should be taken. Healthcare providers should be conversant on heat stress and advise their patients on how to adopt measures that protect their health and the health of their unborn child. Another is that health agencies should publish heat warnings for pregnant women. As temperatures continue to rise due to anthropogenic activity, heat exposure will become an increasingly larger factor in maternal and child health.
READER'S PROFILE: I imagine a reader skeptical of climate change. Even if my reader is not skeptical of climate change, he/she might not think that heat exposure is a pressing factor in maternal and child health. When my supervisor talked to clinicians from the Mary Center, including OBGYNs and nurse practitioners, they were wary about how immediate or urgent the issue of climate change is on pregnancy. Other members at Human Rights Watch also believe that factors like accessibility and affordability are more important to address.
READER'S RESPONSE: While I understand that rising temperatures may not seem like one of the most pressing issues facing maternal and child health, we should be aware of heat exposure’s impacts because it can exacerbate poorer health outcomes. Maternal and child health is multifactorial – not only one factor affects women’s and babies’ health. We must gain a better understanding of the biological/physiological mechanisms to truly understand heat exposure’s impacts. At the world’s current rate, temperatures will continue to rise. Even though extreme heat might not play a large role now, it certainly will in the next few decades. The medical and public health fields must learn how to address this issue now.
Abstract: As time passes, climate change will continue to pose an even bigger threat to people’s wellbeing globally. When it comes to the intersection between climate change and health, most research is done on the increasing pressures of food insecurity and vector-borne diseases, but less is known about how heat exposure directly affects health outcomes. On top of that, the effects of heat exposure on vulnerable populations, like pregnant women and neonates are less discussed. Because pregnant women and developing fetuses are extremely susceptible to external conditions, the impact of heat must be noted. Unlike normal healthy people, pregnant women’s ability to regulate heat is lessened, because their body surface area is reduced. As a result, they are more likely to get dehydrated. Researchers and scientists around the world are attempting to evaluate the association between heat events and pregnancy-related health outcomes. This exploratory literature review presents the findings from a few articles from different databases. Epidemiological studies have shown a link between exposure to high temperatures, and adverse birth outcomes, including preterm birth, low birth weight, preeclampsia/eclampsia, and congenital heart defects. Among pregnant women, extreme heat exposure affects various subgroups differently. Teenage mothers, Black mothers, and lower SES women will face a greater impact. In order to mitigate the effects of rising temperatures on this vulnerable population, several recommendations should be taken. Healthcare providers should be conversant on heat stress and advise their patients on how to adopt measures that protect their health and the health of their unborn child. Another is that health agencies should publish heat warnings for pregnant women. As temperatures continue to rise due to anthropogenic activity, heat exposure will become an increasingly larger factor in maternal and child health.
READER'S PROFILE: I imagine a reader skeptical of climate change. Even if my reader is not skeptical of climate change, he/she might not think that heat exposure is a pressing factor in maternal and child health. When my supervisor talked to clinicians from the Mary Center, including OBGYNs and nurse practitioners, they were wary about how immediate or urgent the issue of climate change is on pregnancy. Other members at Human Rights Watch also believe that factors like accessibility and affordability are more important to address.
READER'S RESPONSE: While I understand that rising temperatures may not seem like one of the most pressing issues facing maternal and child health, we should be aware of heat exposure’s impacts because it can exacerbate poorer health outcomes. Maternal and child health is multifactorial – not only one factor affects women’s and babies’ health. We must gain a better understanding of the biological/physiological mechanisms to truly understand heat exposure’s impacts. At the world’s current rate, temperatures will continue to rise. Even though extreme heat might not play a large role now, it certainly will in the next few decades. The medical and public health fields must learn how to address this issue now.