Reducing the Impact of Heat Stress on Maternal and Neonatal Health in Kenya

Climate change effects on maternal and neonatal health caused by heat stress, and air pollution can be detrimental in the immediate and long term. Heat exposure has been associated with the risk of low birth weight, preterm, and stillbirths. Dehydration in pregnant women can trigger the early onset of, as well as prolonged labour. Heat stress can lead to reduced blood flow and oxygen to the placenta, affecting fetal growth, it can increase blood pressure and pre-eclampsia in pregnancy, and heighten the risk of postpartum depression and posttraumatic disorder. Kenya's pre-term birth rate is 12 per every 100 live births, equaling that of sub-Saharan Africa at 12%. Kenya aims to reduce its stillbirth rate from 19.7 per 1000 births to 12 per 1000 births by 2030.