Top

Wits RHI

HIGH Horizons Study: Early Warning Systems &Health Interventions for Pregnant Women, Infants, Children, &Healthcare Workers

Protecting Pregnant Women, Infants, and Health Workers from Extreme Heat. Our recent study, published in Nature Medicine, highlights the dangers of heat exposure on maternal and child health. For every 1°C increase in heat, the odds of preterm birth rise by 4%. During a heatwave, the risk of preterm birth jumps by 26%. We also found increased risks for gestational diabetes, stillbirths, congenital anomalies, and other complications as heat exposure rises.

About the Study

The HIGH Horizons Study looks at how extreme heat impacts pregnant women, young children, and healthcare workers. The study’s goal is to co-design and create heat early warning messages tailored for pregnant and postpartum women, infants, and healthcare workers in urban areas with hot climates. Using smartphones, the Early Warning System will deliver personalized tips to help women better manage extreme heat.

Key Goals

  • Gather insights from pregnant women, postpartum women, and healthcare workers on how to effectively share heat warning messages.
  • Explore the experiences of pregnant and postpartum women dealing with extreme heat.
  • Launch the MotherHeat Alert app (formerly ClimApp-MCH) to provide real-time heat warnings for pregnant women, infants, and healthcare workers.

Together, we can protect vulnerable groups from the dangers of extreme heat!