Study reveals dire health risks for pregnant women in India amid climate change
climate change poses serious health risks to pregnant women, including preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia, according to a new government-backed study. Women and Child Development Minister Smriti Irani, speaking at the launch of the report that was sponsored by her department, said climate change and its impact are not a standalone crisis.
«This is the first Indian study from the perspective of agroecological zones in India; this has never been done in India before and that is why it is significant,» she said.
«There has to be a narrative around the agroecological zones in the country… India has to come up with legacy climate solutions that India has to offer and also study what the global north is facing in terms of climate change and how we can provide solutions,» Irani said.
One significant finding of the study is the heightened vulnerability of pregnant women to the adverse effects of prolonged heat exposure.
With India projected to experience a rise in annual temperatures by 1.7 to 2.2 degrees Celsius by 2030, the number of individuals exposed to extreme heat conditions is on the rise. «This increase in temperature poses serious health risks to pregnant women, including preterm delivery, gestational hypertension, and pre-eclampsia,» the study said.
The study was conducted by MS Swaminathan Research Foundation, Associated Chambers of Commerce & Industry of India (ASSOCHAM) and Karmannya.
This new study sheds light on the disproportionately higher risks faced by women and children,
