A new report by Climate Central has brought urgent global attention to a worsening crisis that frontline health workers in Africa have long raised alarms about: the rising number of “pregnancy heat-risk days.” These are days when extreme heat significantly increases the likelihood of pregnancy-related complications such as preterm births, low birth weight, and stillbirths.
According to the report, human-driven climate change has more than doubled the number of these hazardous days over the past five years worldwide. However, the effects are especially severe in Africa, where medical infrastructure is often ill-equipped to deal with extreme temperatures.
Dire Health Implications for Expectant Mothers
Pregnancy places extra stress on a woman’s body, and sustained high temperatures can exacerbate underlying health vulnerabilities. Scientific research has linked excessive heat exposure during pregnancy to a range of risks, including premature labor, dehydration, organ stress, and complications for both the mother and baby. The latest findings from Climate Central suggest that the frequency and intensity of these risks are accelerating.
For millions of pregnant women in sub-Saharan Africa, the situation is especially critical. Many healthcare facilities lack stable electricity, functional fans, or properly ventilated maternity wards. This makes it nearly impossible to regulate indoor temperatures, especially during extended heatwaves.
Medical Standards Collapsing Under Climate Stress
Doctors and midwives across West, East, and Central Africa have reported a noticeable increase in pregnancy complications during hot months. In some regions, the number of heat-risk days has climbed by as much as 40 to 50 per year—translating to weeks of dangerously high temperatures that violate basic medical safety thresholds for pregnant women.
“Many rural clinics don’t even have ceiling fans,” one nurse in northern Nigeria said. “When the heat becomes unbearable, we can’t guarantee the safety of mothers or their babies. Women give birth in rooms that feel like ovens.”
These conditions defy World Health Organization (WHO) safety guidelines, which recommend that delivery rooms stay below 26°C (78.8°F) for maternal and neonatal health. Yet in parts of Africa, maternity wards frequently exceed 40°C (104°F) during peak dry seasons.
Unequal Climate Burden on Women
Climate change continues to exacerbate inequalities, hitting hardest in regions that contribute the least to global emissions. African nations account for less than 4% of global carbon emissions, yet the continent bears a disproportionate share of climate-related health burdens—especially for women.
In rural and underserved communities, cooling technologies are often non-existent. Pregnant women must continue farm work under the scorching sun or travel long distances to reach the nearest health center, often by foot or motorcycle taxis. These journeys, coupled with prolonged heat exposure, dramatically increase the chances of complications.
“Expectant mothers are collapsing from heat exhaustion before they even make it to the delivery ward,” said a midwife in central Kenya. “We’ve lost babies because women arrived dehydrated, overheated, and with dangerously high blood pressure.”
Need for Urgent Adaptation and Investment
The Climate Central study underscores an urgent need for investment in climate adaptation strategies across African health sectors. Experts recommend the rapid deployment of solar-powered fans, better ventilation systems, and heat-resilient infrastructure in maternity clinics.
In addition, training healthcare workers to recognize and respond to heat-related symptoms among pregnant women can save lives. Mobile health units equipped with cooling technologies could also provide temporary relief in remote or hard-hit areas.
Beyond infrastructure, broader climate resilience policies must consider maternal health as a central issue. Governments and international donors are being urged to include pregnancy heat-risk days as a metric when evaluating the health impacts of climate change.
Global Call to Action
The findings also call for greater global accountability. Wealthier nations—responsible for the vast majority of historical greenhouse gas emissions—must increase funding for climate adaptation in vulnerable countries, particularly those in Africa. That includes expanding access to clean energy, improving health infrastructure, and delivering on climate finance pledges made under the Paris Agreement.
If current emissions trends continue, Climate Central warns, pregnancy heat-risk days will continue to rise exponentially, threatening to reverse decades of progress in maternal and neonatal health.
A Looming Public Health Emergency
In short, this is no longer just a climate story; it’s a public health emergency. The intersection of gender, poverty, and climate is creating life-threatening conditions for millions of pregnant women. Without rapid and sustained intervention, maternal mortality and infant deaths could surge in regions already battling fragile healthcare systems and economic hardship.
As the planet warms, the cost is being measured not only in degrees—but in lives. And for pregnant women across Africa, each day of extreme heat could mean the difference between life and death.
