United News of Bangladesh

Human-caused climate change contributed to nearly 1,500 additional preterm births in Bangladesh during the extreme heat event of April 2024, according to new analysis by Zero Carbon Analytics (ZCA), an international research group providing insights and analysis about climate change and the energy transition. The research estimates that 1,479 preterm births in Bangladesh during April 2024 would not have occurred without the additional warming caused by human-induced climate change.  The heat event was made around 45 times more likely by human-caused climate change, according to World Weather Attribution. In a separate analysis, ZCA estimates that the April 2024 heat event was associated with approximately 5,515 excess preterm births in Bangladesh compared with a typical April over the 1991–2020 period. This represents an 11.9% increase in preterm births, equivalent to approximately 19 additional preterm births per 1,000 births – the highest rate among the three countries examined in the study. The findings highlight the growing threat that climate-driven extreme heat poses to maternal and newborn health in Bangladesh, which already has one of the highest preterm birth rates in the world. Bangladesh had an estimated preterm birth rate of 16.2% in 2020, the highest national average globally. South Asia, as a region, recorded a preterm birth rate of 13.2%. Preterm birth, defined as birth before 37 completed weeks of pregnancy, is the leading cause of neonatal mortality globally. Babies born prematurely face increased risks of death and longer-term physical, neurodevelopmental and socioeconomic challenges. Dhaka and Chittagong carry almost half of the burden The research reveals that the impact of extreme heat was not evenly distributed across Bangladesh. Dhaka and Chittagong, the country's two most populous divisions, together accounted for 47% of the estimated 5,515 excess preterm births associated with the April 2024 heat event. However, the analysis also identifies Mymensingh as a particularly important area of concern. Temperatures there averaged 3.59°C above the division's typical April baseline, the largest temperature increase among Bangladesh's divisions. The rise in preterm birth risk was estimated at approximately 10–15% across every division. Mymensingh recorded the highest rate of excess preterm births, at 24 per 1,000 births, despite ranking sixth among the eight divisions in the total number of excess cases. Sylhet recorded the lowest rate, at 16 per 1,000 births. These findings demonstrate why national averages alone cannot adequately capture the health burden of extreme heat. While more populous divisions account for a greater number of cases, smaller divisions can experience particularly sharp increases in risk. An ordinary April could bring 1,500 additional preterm births by mid-century The research also warns that Bangladesh's heat-related preterm birth burden is likely to increase as global temperatures continue to rise. Under moderate and higher future warming scenarios, ZCA projects that Bangladesh could experience approximately 1,500 excess preterm births during a typical April by mid-century (2041–2060), compared with the 1985–2014 climate baseline. The estimated range is 630–2,900 cases. This projection reflects an estimated 1.1°C increase in April temperatures by mid-century. Dhaka Division is projected to experience the largest burden, followed by Chittagong and Rajshahi. The projections assume that no additional adaptation measures are implemented and that the relationship between temperature and preterm birth risk remains consistent with current evidence. They also account for projected changes in the number of births. Heat protection must become part of routine maternal healthcare Pregnant women are particularly vulnerable to extreme heat because of the physiological demands of pregnancy. Heat exposure can contribute to dehydration, reduced blood flow to the placenta, inflammation and the activation of pathways that initiate labour. Cumilla Sadar South Health Complex Medical Officer Dr. Ummay Hafsa Mazumde said intense heat can pose serious risks to pregnant women. Excessive sweating can cause significant loss of electrolytes, potentially leading to serious health complications for both the mother and her unborn child. The risks can be compounded by poverty, nutritional anaemia, strenuous physical work, limited access to antenatal care and inadequate access to cooling. Poorly ventilated homes and housing materials that trap heat can also increase exposure, even when women are indoors. Bangladesh has already taken an important step towards addressing these risks. In 2024, the Directorate General of Health Services, working with UNICEF, launched national guidelines specifically aimed at protecting children and pregnant women from heat stress, recognising the risk of preterm birth. However, heat protection is not yet systematically integrated into routine maternal healthcare programmes. The challenge now is to translate guidance into practical protection for pregnant women and newborns, particularly in communities facing the greatest heat exposure. Measures such as integrating heat-risk information into antenatal care, strengthening community-based maternal health services, improving access to cooling and hydration, and expanding heat early-warning systems could help reduce the risks. The research also highlights the importance of strengthening healthcare preparedness in divisions with the largest estimated burden, while ensuring that areas experiencing the sharpest increases in risk are not overlooked. Dr Joanne Bentley-McKune, Lead Author of the report and Senior Research Analyst at Zero Carbon Analytics, said: “Climate change is making extreme heat more frequent and intense, raising the risk of preterm birth and the potentially lifelong health impacts associated with it. Bangladesh has contributed relatively little to the historical emissions driving climate change, yet are disproportionately affected by climate-driven extreme weather compared with high-income, high-emitting countries, which also have more resources to adapt. Our estimates can help identify where greater health service capacity is needed, and adaptation measures - such as better antenatal care and early warning systems – should be prioritised. However, these could prevent only some of the preterm birth burden imposed by climate change, so limiting further warming remains crucial.” Prof Dr Iqbal Kabir, Climate and Public Health Expert, Director, Center for Climate Change and Public Health stated “These findings are a wake-up call for Bangladesh. Extreme heat is an urgent public health threat for pregnant women and newborns in Bangladesh. The estimated 5,515 excess preterm births during the April 2024 heat event highlight the need to integrate heat protection into maternal healthcare. We need to strengthen heat-risk screening and counselling through antenatal care, equip frontline health workers, improve early-warning systems and ensure access to safe, cool environments, particularly for vulnerable communities. Protecting mothers and newborns from extreme heat requires coordinated action across the health system, climate policy and communities.”