Heat stress poses growing threat to pregnant women and newborns

More than two-thirds of health professionals surveyed across five continents reported witnessing heat-related complications in pregnant women and newborns over the past five years, according to findings that highlight the escalating health risks posed by rising temperatures.

The survey results point to a widening crisis in maternal and neonatal care, with heat-induced complications ranging from preterm labour to dehydration and heat exhaustion in vulnerable populations. Medical practitioners in tropical and subtropical regions, including parts of South and Southeast Asia, have been particularly affected by the trend.

Experts warn that pregnant women face heightened risks during extreme heat events due to physiological changes that impair their body's ability to regulate temperature. Newborns are similarly susceptible, lacking fully developed thermoregulatory systems needed to cope with prolonged heat exposure.

The findings emerge amid growing global concern about climate change and its intersection with public health. Health systems in developing regions, already stretched by resource constraints, face mounting pressure to protect vulnerable maternal and child populations from heat-related illness.

Medical professionals are calling for enhanced heat-action plans, improved access to cooling facilities in healthcare settings, and community education programmes to help pregnant women and caregivers recognise and respond to heat-related emergencies.