Project Brief:

We aim to conduct mixed-methods research to facilitate evidence-based policy-making for mitigating the impacts of rising ambient temperatures and recurring floods on pregnancy outcomes and newborn survival in rural Pakistan. Our proposed study is quasi-experimental and will evaluate the Enhanced Antenatal Care (EANC) guidelines to address the effects of heat and floods on pregnancy outcomes and newborn survival. Healthcare providers in selected basic health units in the rural district of Thatta, Sindh, will be trained in the EANC guidelines. Pregnant women visiting these facilities will receive EANC services and will be followed through delivery and the postpartum period to monitor instances of preterm births, low birth weight, stillbirths, and neonatal deaths. The impact of the EANC will be assessed through baseline and end-line surveys conducted in the health facilities.

Public Policy Relevance

Our project aims to generate epidemiological evidence on the association between climate change and maternal, fetal, and neonatal health. We will highlight the impacts of high ambient temperatures and flooding on pregnancy outcomes and neonatal health. To mitigate these effects, we will upgrade clinical practices for antenatal care and evaluate the effectiveness of an enhanced antenatal care protocol through clinical trials. Additionally, we will develop and test a home-level intervention package for heat adaptation and mitigation, assessing its effectiveness in improving pregnancy outcomes and newborn survival. The evidence generated will directly inform and influence policy and practice. We will engage with provincial and national stakeholders—including policymakers, health managers, healthcare providers, and community leaders—to ensure that our research findings translate into actionable policy recommendations. We will actively involve local communities, particularly women and caregivers, in the research process to co-design community-based adaptation strategies that enhance resilience and improve health outcomes. Public awareness campaigns will empower communities to protect maternal and child health in a changing climate. Furthermore, advocacy efforts directed toward the government health system will promote evidence-based decision-making to mitigate climate change’s impacts on the health of women and children. Through this project, we aim to strengthen research capacity within our teams and within the government’s departments of health and population welfare in Sindh. We will foster a sustainable ecosystem for climate-health research by integrating training programs for researchers, healthcare providers, and community health workers.

Team Details

Principal Investigator
Maj Gen (R) Prof Shehl M. Baqai
Principal and Dean Health Sciences
Bahria University Karachi

Co-PI
Dr. Farid Mldhet
Professor Comm. Health Sciences
Bahria University Karachi

Co-PI
Dr. Inayat H. Thaver
Professor Comm. Health Sciences
Bahria University Karachi