Climate change can negatively impact maternal and pregnancy outcomes through various mechanisms. Women in developing countries are especially vulnerable due to factors like poverty, poor sanitation, and weak healthcare systems. Issues like malnutrition, infectious diseases, and extreme weather can lead to complications such as spontaneous abortion, preterm birth, and low birth weight. Higher temperatures in particular are associated with decreased birth weight. Climate change is expected to exacerbate existing health risks to both mothers and children through increased malnutrition, diarrhea, and vector-borne diseases. Migration due to extreme events can also increase mental health issues and limit access to resources.

1. Climate change and the potential effects
on
maternal and pregnancy outcomes
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2. 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

3. Health Risks for mothers and children
Malnutrition Infectious diseases
Environmental
Problems
Direct Heat
Exposure

4. 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

5. Good maternal
health is crucial
for a healthy
birth outcome
and a healthy
gestational
period.

6. 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.

7. 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

8. • 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

9. 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

10. Maternal complication in first trimester
• Spontaneous
abortion
• Missed abortion
• Dehydration
• Hyperemesis
gravidarum

11. Maternal complication in second trimester
• Spontaneous abortion
• Premature contractions

12. Maternal complication in third trimester
•Premature contractions
•Abruptio placentae
•Dehydration
•Renal failure
•Premature delivery
•Pre-eclampsia
•HELLP syndrome

13. 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

14. Climate induced health risks
Malnutrition
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.

15. 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.

16. Climate induced health risks
vector-borne diseases
Increased
temperatures are
expected to increase
transmission and
spreading of vector-
borne diseases such
as Malaria, Dengue
fever,
Schistosomiasis.

17. Extreme events and migration
Perinatal 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.

18. Effects of direct heat exposure
The 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.

19. 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.

20. References:
http://www.globalhealthaction.net/index.php/gha/art
icle/view/19538/html
http://unews.utah.edu/climate-change-negatively-
affects-birth-weight-u-study-finds/
Compiled by Vijaya Sawant
www.oratechsolve.com email: info@oratechsolve.com