By PPH Foundation
Climate-related emergencies can make it harder for pregnant women to reach maternity facilities, increasing the danger when complications such as postpartum haemorrhage (PPH), or excessive bleeding after childbirth, occur. As floods damage roads, transport becomes unreliable and household resources are stretched, community preparedness can help women plan for safer pregnancies and timely access to emergency care.
A study published in PLOS Climate on 27 March 2026 examined how changing weather patterns affected access to antenatal care in Kenya’s Kisumu and Migori counties. Researchers gathered experiences from 149 women who had given birth within the previous two years. Participants described how heavy rainfall, flooding, damaged roads, financial hardship and extreme heat disrupted access to healthcare. Some women reported difficulty reaching clinics, while others faced dangerous journeys during labour.
The findings highlight why maternal health planning must account for the realities women face in their communities. For PPH prevention, this means preparing for emergencies before extreme weather strikes.
Community health promoters, midwives and local leaders can help pregnant women and their families develop birth preparedness plans. These can include identifying a suitable maternity facility, arranging transport in advance, identifying alternative routes when roads become impassable and keeping emergency contacts readily available. Community networks can also help communicate changing road conditions, identify women who may need assistance and link families with health workers and referral services.
A second study published in Nature Communications on 4 May 2026 provides wider regional evidence. Analysing 256,101 live births across 21 sub-Saharan African countries, researchers found that each additional day of extreme precipitation in the three days surrounding childbirth was associated with 10.8 fewer facility-based births per 1,000 live births. The findings demonstrate how severe rainfall can undermine access to skilled childbirth care when women need it most.
Prof Julius Ogeng’o, End PPH Initiative Co- Lead, highlights the importance of addressing the wider determinants of PPH in his article, Social Determinants of Postpartum Haemorrhage and Their Implications, published in PPH Insights. He identifies “environment and climate change factors” among the influences on maternal health and argues that “combatting PPH must take a multi-sectoral approach”. His perspective reinforces the need to bring healthcare professionals, environmental experts, communities and policymakers together to protect mothers.
However, community awareness alone cannot prevent every case of PPH or replace emergency medical care. PPH can develop rapidly and requires prompt recognition and treatment, appropriate medicines, skilled health workers and access to blood transfusion when necessary. Climate preparedness must therefore extend to health facilities, referral systems, ambulance services and reliable blood supplies, including during floods and other emergencies.
The evidence points to a practical priority: listen to women, strengthen community-to-facility links and prepare maternity services for climate-related disruptions. When families can plan ahead and health systems remain ready to respond, women are better positioned to reach lifesaving care without dangerous delays.
References
- Matanda, D. J., Warren, C. E., Okoth, O., Otieno, B., & Nakuya, Z. (2026). ‘Water is a good thing, but when it destroys it is not good’: The influence of changing weather patterns on access to antenatal care services in Western Kenya — A qualitative study. PLOS Climate, 5(3), e0000882. Published 27 March 2026. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000882
- Ba, O. A., Hierink, F., Taylor, C., Macharia, P. M., Beňová, L., Laurent-Lucchetti, J., et al. (2026). Impact of extreme precipitation events on facility-based births in 21 sub-Saharan African countries. Nature Communications, 17, Article 6196. Published 4 May 2026. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-026-72547-w
- Ogeng’o, J. (2026). Social Determinants of Postpartum Hemorrhage and Their Implications. PPH Insights, Issue 007. PPH Foundation. https://endpphfoundation.org/assets/media/newsletter-docs/1779186254960649.pdf
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