Hyderabad, July 22 -- Even short spells of extreme heat during pregnancy can increase the risk of adverse birth outcomes, with a national study finding that three to four consecutive days of severe heat exposure are enough to raise the chances of low birth weight among newborns.
The study, titled "Effect of extreme heat stress on adverse pregnancy outcomes in India", found that prolonged exposure to extreme heat during pregnancy increased the risk of preterm birth and low birth weight.
The research was conducted by scientists from the University of Queensland-IIT Delhi Academy of Research (UQIDAR), IIT Delhi and the University of Queensland's School of Public Health, along with collaborators from UNSW Sydney, the University of Exeter and ...