Effect of Heat Stress on Fetal and Infant Growth
Source: Lancet Planet Health, October 2024
Background
Climate change, food insecurity, and undernutrition are major issues affecting children’s health. This study looks at how heat impacts growth from conception to age 2, which is vital for understanding child mortality and health issues.
Study Methods
We analyzed data from the ENID trial in The Gambia, which ran from January 2010 to February 2015. This trial explored the effects of micronutrient supplementation during the first 1000 days of life. We examined the impacts of heat stress on growth using various measurements of infant size at birth and during early childhood.
Findings
We collected complete data for 668 infants. Key findings include:
- During the first trimester, a 1°C rise in heat exposure reduced birth weight for gestational age.
- In the third trimester, increased heat was linked to a slight rise in head size.
- Maternal protein-energy supplementation decreased birth weight in hotter conditions.
- For infants aged 6-18 months, heat significantly impacted growth, particularly at 12 months old, with notable reductions in weight and height.
Conclusion
Heat stress negatively affects both prenatal and postnatal growth, especially in young children. These findings highlight the urgent need for public health strategies to address child health in a warming climate.
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