A thorough examination of more than 3,000 global studies reveals a troubling link between flooding and an uptick in preterm births—an estimated rise of about 3% worldwide.
Additionally, infants who encounter flooding in utero face a greater risk of being born with low birth weight.
These conditions are recognized as critical factors that can lead to chronic health challenges later in life, such as asthma and diabetes.
Health Implications of Flooding
While the study itself doesn’t pinpoint specific biological mechanisms that connect flooding to these negative pregnancy outcomes, it relies on previous research suggesting that stress, life disruptions, and difficulties accessing healthcare might play significant roles.
Julia Gohlke, an environmental health scientist at Virginia Tech and the lead investigator of the study, highlights the long-lasting health implications of flooding incidents.
As climate change intensifies and flooding becomes more frequent, the insights gleaned from this analysis underscore the significance of these risks.
Complex Relationship Between Flooding and Pregnancy Outcomes
Flooding directly threatens human well-being, resulting in injuries, fatalities, and the spread of illnesses.
Beyond these immediate hazards, there are profound indirect effects, such as persistent anxiety and economic hardship.
Although earlier studies have suggested detrimental outcomes for pregnant women and their babies following floods, these findings have varied widely.
To better understand how flooding affects pregnancy outcomes, Gohlke and her team meticulously reviewed data from 3,177 studies examining pregnancy length and birth weight in relation to flooding events spanning from the 1800s to the present.
The results displayed notable discrepancies influenced by the specific flooding events and locations being analyzed.
While some researchers found no significant effects, others documented compelling evidence of heightened pregnancy risks associated with flooding.
For instance, a study from 2008 focusing on preterm births after Hurricane Katrina revealed a shocking 230% increase linked to the flooding.
Overall, the research suggests that flooding is associated with approximately a 3% rise in preterm births compared to unaffected areas.
Moreover, about 7% of infants whose mothers were exposed to flooding during pregnancy were reported to have low birth weight.
Factors Contributing to Negative Birth Outcomes
Gohlke points out that the reasons behind these negative birth outcomes are complex.
Stress can potentially trigger premature labor, much like what occurs during heat waves, which have shown to increase preterm births—likely due to dehydration.
A similar situation arises during flooding, especially when water supplies are contaminated or citizens must undertake long treks to escape peril.
Limited access to timely healthcare during flooding is another significant contributor to the increase in preterm births.
Adequate medical intervention can help manage the risks associated with premature labor, but flooded roads and damaged facilities often hinder access to essential services.
It’s also important to note that while preterm births are frequently associated with low birth weight, the link isn’t universal.
Insufficient nutrition during pregnancy can lead to low birth weight regardless of the timing of labor.
Flooding can severely disrupt food access—damaging crops and blocking supply routes—which in turn raises the chances of lower birth weights among babies born to women during these crises.
Although experiencing preterm birth or low birth weight doesn’t guarantee future health issues, it significantly elevates the risk.
Given these findings, it would be wise for emergency services to prioritize evacuating pregnant individuals ahead of impending floods.
This precautionary step could help mitigate the long-term health implications highlighted by the research.
Source: ScienceDaily