logo
Heatwaves Increase Risk Of Pregnancy Complications By 1.25 Times: Study

Heatwaves Increase Risk Of Pregnancy Complications By 1.25 Times: Study

NDTV14-05-2025

Scorching heatwaves fuelled by global warming are increasing the risk of dangerous complications during pregnancies across the world, a report warned on Wednesday.
Being exposed to extreme heat while pregnant has previously been linked to a range of problems, including a higher risk of premature birth, stillbirth, birth defects and gestational diabetes.
The new report from the US-based research group Climate Central sought to measure how much more pregnant women have been exposed to excessive heat since 2020 -- and to what extent climate change is to blame.
In 222 out of the 247 countries and territories studied, "climate change at least doubled the average annual number of pregnancy heat-risk days experienced during the past five years", the report said.
The biggest increases were in developing countries where access to healthcare is limited, such as in the Caribbean, Central and South America, the Pacific islands, Southeast Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.
The researchers only looked at the rise in potentially dangerous hot days and did not examine the extent to which pregnant women were actually affected by heat in the countries.
Ana Bonell, a maternal health and extreme heat researcher at London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine not involved in the report, said it "gives clear evidence of the growing exposure risk to extreme heat".
The findings could also apply to the elderly, another group who are more at risk during blisteringly hot periods, she told AFP.
While researchers are increasingly documenting the many ways that extreme heat can threaten human health, there remain "many unknowns" about the physiological mechanisms to explain why this happens, Bonell said.
A large 2024 study in Nature Medicine estimated that heatwaves increase the odds of having a complication during pregnancy by 1.25 times.
Beyond wider efforts to fight climate change -- which is largely caused by humans burning fossil fuels -- experts advised local policies to help communities beat the heat.
These include "greening neighbourhoods, limiting pollution, creating cool areas and informing residents about the risks," French epidemiologist Lucie Adelaide said.
In a statement linked to the new report, she also recommended that existing information about the health risks of heatwaves include warnings for pregnant women, who are currently rarely mentioned in such efforts.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues: NMHP Advisor
Surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues: NMHP Advisor

United News of India

time3 hours ago

  • United News of India

Surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues: NMHP Advisor

Hyderabad, June 11 (UNI) A surge in spousal murders in India reflects deeper societal issues where forced marriages and inability to express views about relationship choices can lead to violent outcomes, according to Dr Naresh Puohit, Advisor National Mental Health Programme (NMHP). The recent tragic murder of Raja Raghuvanshi, a young businessman from Indore, allegedly killed by his wife, Sonam Raghuvanshi, during their honeymoon in Meghalaya is a heartbreaking reminder of the devastation caused by dishonesty in relationships. Marriage is a sacred bond built on trust and mutual respect. When these values are absent, the consequences can be catastrophic, said Dr Naresh, noted Mental Health Expert. Talking to UNI after addressing a Continuing Medical Education Programme (CME) on "Understanding Toxic Relationships" organised by the Hyderabad-based Institute of Mental Health here on Wednesday, Dr Purohit emphasised that instead of resorting to violence, individuals must have the courage to choose divorce or to walk away from marriages that conflict with their true feelings. Taking an innocent life is never the answer, it creates a cycle of pain and suffering for all involved. Quoting his recent research paper titled "The Psychology Behind Spousal Killings", the Principal Investigator for the Association of Studies In Mental Care, pointed that one of the leading factors that makes spouses commit such heinous act is the desire to take over, control and dominate the relationship; and the failure to achieve that can lead to frustration, prompting them to kill their partner. "The relationships where the partner has the intense ambition of jealousy and possessiveness can fuel anger and resentment, whereas little events can take up huge manifestations like killing or murdering the partner," he added "The past experiences of an individual can lead to such killings. Where prior bad experiences may erode trust in the institution of marriage, leading to the killing of the partner," he said He averred that several personality disorders, such as narcissistic personality disorder, where one is extremely egotistical or is very suspicious of the other partner, can predispose individuals to aggressive behaviors and a lack of empathy. "According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) homicides resulting from love affairs and marital relationships are the third and fourth most prevalent motives for murder in India. Statistically, approximately one in ten murders in the nation is perpetrated by a lover, spouse, or partner." "From 2010 to 2014, the proportion of murders linked to love affairs and relationships fluctuated between 7 percent and 8 percent. In contrast, from 2015 to 2022, this percentage increased to between 10 percent and 11 per cent, and the trend shows no signs of abating," the renowned physician added. Experts pointed out that in most spousal crimes, the person isn't mentally ill; they just don't care how their emotions and actions affect others. It's much more than just poor mental well-being, it's complete moral erosion. UNI KNR RN

Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed
Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed

India Today

time3 hours ago

  • India Today

Ax-4 crew remains upbeat, says Commander Whitson as launch is delayed

The Ax-4 crew remains upbeat despite another delay in their much-anticipated mission to the International Space Station, Mission Commander and former NASA Astronaut Peggy Whitson wrote on X on Wednesday. The latest postponement comes after a liquid oxygen (LOx) leak was discovered during post-static fire inspections of the Falcon 9 booster. The rocket is set to carry Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla into orbit. advertisementPeggy Whitson, in a statement posted on social media, said setbacks and delays are a normal part of spaceflight. "Our Ax-4 crew remains upbeat and looking forward to a safe and successful flight to the Space Station," she in the day, SpaceX announced it was standing down from the June 11 launch date to allow teams additional time to address the LOx issue. Once repairs are complete and pending range availability, SpaceX will announce a revised schedule. The launch, operated by Houston-based Axiom Space, had initially been slated for May 29 but has faced multiple delays due to weather and technical concerns. The current hold extends that timeline, even as mission managers work toward ensuring safety and operational NASA has outlined a range of potential launch windows for the Ax-4 mission, offering some flexibility in the timeline. According to Dana Weigel, Manager of NASA's International Space Station Programme, launch opportunities remain open through June 30, with additional options available in mid-July following a temporary operational pause. The schedule is also dependent on planned traffic at the ISS, including the undocking of Russia's Progress cargo vehicle and the arrival of another spacecraft in early mission is particularly significant for India, as it marks a historic milestone with Shubhanshu Shukla becoming the first Indian astronaut to visit the International Space Station. A decorated test pilot with over 2,000 hours of flight experience, Shukla will take part in scientific research aboard the ISS during the mission's planned 10-day participation highlights India's growing ambitions in human spaceflight and aligns with national efforts to boost interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) among younger SpaceX continues to troubleshoot the rocket issue and coordinate with NASA, the Ax-4 mission holds strong symbolic value for both international collaboration and India's expanding role in space exploration.

Empowering young minds: How 4 friends are teaching AI in low-income communities
Empowering young minds: How 4 friends are teaching AI in low-income communities

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Empowering young minds: How 4 friends are teaching AI in low-income communities

Pune: "Why are firefighters always men? Why is a black, old, fat woman never the first image when we ask for a person?" These were some of the sharp questions posed by 11- to 14-year-old children learning about artificial intelligence (AI), its reasoning, and its biases. As part of Pune-based THE Labs, a not-for-profit organisation founded by four friends, these children from low-income communities are not just learning how AI works but also how to challenge and reshape its inherent prejudices, how to train it, how to leverage it, and how to evaluate it. Since June 2024, its first cohort of 20 students explored AI through image classification and identification, learning how machines perceive the world. Now, they are gearing up to train large language models, equipping themselves with skills to shape AI's future. A new batch of 63 students has joined. THE Labs is a non-profit after-school programme blending technology, humanities and entrepreneurship. It was founded by tech entrepreneurs Mayura Dolas and Mandar Kulkarni, AI engineer Kedar Marathe, and interdisciplinary artist Ruchita Bhujbal, who saw a gap — engineers lacked exposure to real-world issues, and educators had little understanding of technology. "We first considered building a school, but the impact would have been limited. Besides, there were logistical hurdles," said Dolas, who is also a filmmaker. Kulkarni's acceptance into The Circle's incubation programme two years ago provided 18 months of mentorship and resources to refine their vision. In June 2024, THE Labs launched a pilot at a low-income English-medium school in Khadakwasla, training 20 students from standards VI-VIII (12 girls, 8 boys). With no dedicated space, they conducted 1.5-hour morning sessions at the school. Students first learned about classifier AI — how AI identifies objects — and image generation AI, which creates visuals based on prompts. Through hands-on practice, students discovered how AI's training data impacts accuracy and how biases emerge when datasets lack diversity. They experimented with prompts, analysed AI-generated images, and studied errors. "We asked them to write prompts and replicate an image, and they did it perfectly. That is prompt engineering in action," Dolas said. A key takeaway was AI bias. Students compared outputs from two AI models, identifying gaps — such as the underrepresentation of marginalised identities. "For example, children realised that a black, fat, older woman was rarely generated by AI. They saw firsthand how biases shape digital realities," Dolas added. Parents and students are a happy lot too. Mohan Prasad, a construction worker, said he is not sure what his daughter is learning, but she is excited about AI and often discusses its importance at home. Sarvesh, a standard VIII student, is thrilled that he trained an AI model to identify Hindu deities and noticed biases in AI searches — when prompted with "person", results mostly showed thin white men. "I love AI and want to learn more," he said. His father, Sohan Kolhe, has seen a surge in his son's interest in studies. Anandkumar Raut, who works in the private sector, said his once-shy daughter, a standard VI student, now speaks confidently, does presentations, and is more outspoken since joining the programme.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store