Climate change and the potential effects

on maternal and pregnancy

outcomes

Oratechsolve Inc

Climate can influence human health

• Lack of food and safe drinking water

• Poor sanitation• Population migration• Changing disease

pattern and morbidity• Frequent extreme

weather events• Lack of shelter

Health Risks for mothers and children

Malnutrition Infectious diseases Environmental Problems

Direct Heat Exposure

Women in developing countries suffer from climate change due

to

•Poverty•Poor sanitation• Poor population health status

• High population density• Poor health care systems

• Political instability

Good maternal health is

crucial for a healthy birth outcome and

a healthy gestational

period.

Almost 3 million neonatal deaths and stillbirths yearly are attributable to maternal

health conditions, such as poor nutritional status, deprived living environment, and

infectious diseases.

Temporary side effects of pregnancy in first trimester due to hormonal changes

• Exhaustion• Altered appetite• Nausea and vomiting• Weight loss• Abdominal cramps• Yeast infections• Headaches• Breast pain• Pica

• Weight gain• Dizziness• Fluid retention• Haemorrhoids• Abdominal cramps• Yeast infections• Backache• Headache• Difficult sleep pattern

• Pica• Leg cramps• Joint pain• Hair loss

Temporary side effects of pregnancy in second trimester due to hormonal

changes

Temporary side effects of pregnancy in third trimester due to hormonal changes

•Heartburn•Indigestion

•Constipation•Dizziness•Swelling

•Fluid retention•Haemorrhoids

•Yeast infections•Backache•Headache

•Difficult sleep pattern•Discomfort while sleeping

•Increased urination and incontinence•Pica

•Swelling of joints•Leg cramps

•Increasing blood pressure•Hair loss•Anaemia

Maternal complication in first trimester

• Spontaneous abortion

• Missed abortion

• Dehydration• Hyperemesis gravidarum

Maternal complication in second trimester

• Spontaneous abortion• Premature contractions

Maternal complication in third trimester

•Premature contractions

•Abruptio placentae•Dehydration•Renal failure

•Premature delivery•Pre-eclampsia

•HELLP syndrome

Possible diseases and complications related to climate change

• Spontaneous abortion• Premature contractions

• Low birth weight• Premature delivery

• Increased neonatal mortality• Dehydration• Renal failure

• Vector-borne diseased (e.g. malaria and dengue)

• Malnutrition and food insecurity• Diarrhea

• Respiratory disease• Water scarcity

• Exposures to toxic chemicals• Worsened poverty• Natural disasters

• Population displacement

Climate induced health risksMalnutrition

During pregnancy and period of breastfeeding, energy demand of women increases by approximately 20%. Underweight women are more likely to give birth to children suffering from IUGR/low birth weight, which is considered a risk factor for infant morbidity and mortality.

Climate induced health risks Diarrhea, cholera

Diarrheal disease,

including Cholera is the third

common cause of death. It leads to

dehydration which is a life threatening condition.

Climate induced health risks vector-borne

diseasesIncreased

temperatures are expected to

increase transmission and

spreading of vector-borne

diseases such as Malaria, Dengue

fever, Schistosomiasis.

Extreme events and migrationPerinatal common mental disorder,

postpartum depression are common among immigrant mothers.

Reduced access to safe drinking water and

food, increased risk of infectious diseases,

lack of access to proper pregnancy care increases the risk of complications and

maternal and infant mortality.

Effects of direct heat exposureThe increase in core body temperature is risky for both mother and fetus. Newborn is

sensitive to too high or too-low temperature

due to its limited temperature regulation capacity. Dehydration, renal effects, preterm birth, stillbirth, low

birth weight are associated with direct

heat exposure.

Evidence based results• Increase of hot days

above 100 F during any trimester corresponds to a decrease in birth weight.

• Higher amounts of precipitation during any trimester resulted in larger birth weights.

• Low birth weight infants are susceptible to illness, high risk of mortality, develop disability and impaired cognitive development.

References:

http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/article/view/19538/htmlhttp://unews.utah.edu/climate-change-negatively-affects-birth-weight-u-study-

finds/

Compiled by Vijaya Sawant

www.oratechsolve.com email: info@oratechsolve.com