Community-based maternal health workers' perspectives on heat risk and safety: a pilot qualitative study.
Adelle Dora MonteblancoJennifer K VanosPublished in: Health care for women international (2020)
In this study the authors examined how maternal health workers (MHWs) perceive the health risks of extreme heat exposure to pregnant women and fetuses. The authors conducted interviews with 12 MHWs (including midwives and doulas) in El Paso, Texas. Using qualitative analysis, the researchers identified numerous themes. Although heat was not communicated as a major health risk, participants expressed some concern with growing heat exposure and communicated standard protective measures. While all participants were familiar with some heat illness symptoms, they were generally unaware of their clients' vulnerability. MHWs' minimal heat-risk knowledge leaves pregnant women and developing fetuses at risk of preventable harm.
Keyphrases
- pregnant women
- heat stress
- healthcare
- health risk
- public health
- pregnancy outcomes
- climate change
- mental health
- birth weight
- gestational age
- emergency department
- study protocol
- clinical trial
- risk assessment
- body mass index
- weight loss
- men who have sex with men
- adverse drug
- electronic health record
- hiv testing
- data analysis