Heat wave puts BD pregnant women at high risks: US experts

US think tank "Climate Central" has said that pregnant women in Bangladesh are suffering severe health complications due to extreme heat as heat waves triggers premature births.

"Pregnant women in Bangladesh are increasingly at risk due to intensifying heavy heatwaves fueled by climate change, between 2020 and 2024, Bangladesh experienced an average of 34 days annually classified as "pregnancy heat-risk days," according to a new report published by US think tank Climate Central on May 14, 2025.

"We have work on 21,000 women at Chokoria under the District of Chottogram, we found that heat-risk days for on pregnancy, however, we need to work more on it as heat is now a huge challenges for Bangladesh as climate is concern," Syed Manzoor Ahmed Hanifi, a Scientist and Lead Climate Change, and Population Science (CCHPS) Health System and Population Studies Division of the team of ICDDR, B told the Daily Observer on Saturday.

The report shows Chattogram, the country's second-largest city, has emerged as the most heat-vulnerable urban area, recording an average of 30 additional heat-risk days each year during this period. This accounts for 61 per cent of all such days nationwide, earning the city the designation of a major "temperature hotspot." Dhaka is sharing 8 percent of nationwide pregnancy heat risk days. 
  
 "Bangladesh has made significant progress in maternal health over the past decade," said Dr. Farhana Akter, a public health specialist. "But climate change is now threatening to undo those gains. We urgently need a climate-adaptive health policy that protects the most at-risk groups."

Public health experts are calling for immediate and targeted responses to protect maternal health in a warming climate. Key recommendations include establishing heat-resilient healthcare centers, providing specialized medical services during extreme heat events, and launching public awareness campaigns to prepare communities for the risks.

The Climate Central report warned that without immediate global and national action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve climate resilience, pregnant women in Bangladesh - and many other parts of the world - will face escalating, long-term health threats.

 "This alarming trend is largely driven by fossil fuel emissions from sources such as coal, oil, and gas," said Dr. Kristina Dahl, Vice President of Science at Climate Central. "Even a single day of extreme heat can trigger pregnancy complications. In Bangladesh, where access to healthcare remains limited for many, this adds an extra layer of danger for expectant mothers."

These are days when temperatures exceed the 95th percentile of historical averages - conditions that can significantly increase the risk of pregnancy-related health issues, including preterm birth and other complications.

 The report also notes that while temperatures have steadily risen since the 1950s, regional disparities exist. In some areas, local weather patterns, environmental diversity, or data gaps may have masked even worse outcomes - a warning that conditions could deteriorate further without urgent climate intervention.