Tando Muhammad Khan

Researchers are studying how exposure to high environmental temperatures during pregnancy affects the health of pregnant women and their babies. The study focuses on understanding how heat stress impacts pregnancy complications and birth problems such as early birth and low birth weight. It also aims to explore biological pathways through which heat stress influences maternal, fetal, and infant health across different stages of pregnancy, especially in rural Sindh, Pakistan, where extreme heat and limited access to cooling are common. Participants in the study are pregnant women in their first trimester. They will wear small devices to measure air temperature and humidity around them and answer questionnaires about their heat exposure and coping strategies. Researchers will conduct ultrasounds, blood and urine tests during each trimester to study biological changes related to heat stress. A smaller group will wear additional devices to monitor skin temperature, heart rate, physical activity, and sleep. Birth information will be collected, including newborn weight and length, and a subgroup will provide placental tissue and breastmilk samples. Throughout the pregnancy and for 12 months after birth, researchers will follow mothers and babies to assess health outcomes and growth. They will measure pregnancy complications and newborn health indicators such as low birth weight and small vulnerable newborns. The study involves regular clinic visits, biological sample collections, environmental monitoring, and detailed assessments to understand how heat exposure affects maternal and infant health. Safety monitoring and referrals for health issues are also part of the study process.