Institute for Human Development, Faculty of Public Health, The Aga Khan University, Nairobi, Kenya; and Environmental Center, Leadership and Governance HUB, School of Business, African International University, Nairobi.
Afr J Prim Health Care Fam Med. 2023 May 15;15(1):e1-e3. doi: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3991.
Extreme heat exposure is associated with adverse outcomes in pregnancy and has the potential to impact maternal, neonatal and child health for a lifetime. In an extremely hot climate, pregnant women face an increased risk of premature birth, stillbirth, low birth weight, congenital anomalies and pre-eclampsia. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), socio-demographic and behavioural practices may negatively affect body hydration during high temperatures. The possible causes and consequences of dehydration in the heat are poorly understood and have been little discussed in the literature.Living in a hot climate poses various challenges, including dehydration, where biological mechanisms and insufficient access to water can lead to dehydration in women and children, with consequences for the health of both mothers and children, particularly in relation to breastfeeding habits. During pregnancy, increased metabolic and cardiovascular demands interact with heat exhaustion and reduced availability of fresh water, which can affect the child's growth and development. In this opinion piece, we emphasise the possible causes and impacts of dehydration in extreme heat on the health and well-being of mothers and children. We encourage more research, focused on biology and epidemiology, related to raising awareness and implementing adaptations to reduce the risk of dehydration in pregnant, postpartum women and newborns in the context of climate change-related heat exposure.
暴露在极端高温下与妊娠不良结局相关，并有可能对母婴和儿童的健康产生终身影响。在极热的气候下，孕妇面临早产、死产、低出生体重、先天畸形和子痫前期的风险增加。在中低收入国家（LMICs），社会人口和行为实践可能会在高温下对身体水分产生负面影响。脱水在高温下的可能原因和后果尚未得到充分理解，在文献中也很少讨论。生活在炎热的气候下会带来各种挑战，包括脱水，生物机制和缺乏足够的水供应会导致妇女和儿童脱水，对母婴健康都有影响，特别是与母乳喂养习惯有关。在怀孕期间，增加的代谢和心血管需求与热衰竭以及新鲜水供应减少相互作用，这可能会影响孩子的生长和发育。在这篇观点文章中，我们强调了极端高温下脱水对母亲和儿童健康和福祉的可能原因和影响。我们鼓励开展更多的生物学和流行病学相关研究，以提高认识并实施适应措施，以降低与气候变化相关的热暴露下孕妇、产后妇女和新生儿脱水的风险。
