Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42015216›Full record

ArticleBMC medicine2026

Prenatal exposure to flood and risk of low birth weight: a multi-country study from 36 African countries.

Qian Li, Qian Li, Zhouxin Yin, Shihan Zhen, Zhiyi Xiao, Huaiyue Xu, Fengchao Liang

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In one paragraph

Article in BMC medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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1 · What the graph read from it

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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

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4 · The record

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5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

7 authors.

Qian Li *School of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China.ORCID 0009-0002-7119-5143
Qian Li *School of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China.ORCID 0009-0008-5679-7158
Zhouxin YinSchool of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Shihan ZhenSchool of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Zhiyi XiaoSchool of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China.
Huaiyue XuDong Fureng Institute of Economic and Social Development, Wuhan University, Wuhan, 430072, China.
Fengchao LiangSchool of Public Health and Emergency Management, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, 1088 Xueyuan Avenue, Fuguang community, Taoyuan Street, Nanshan District, Shenzhen, 518055, China. liangfc@sustech.edu.cn.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82574049the National Natural Science Foundation of China 82422066the Natural Science Foundation of Guangdong Province, China 2023A1515011206
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundClimate change is increasing the frequency, duration, and severity of floods escalating worldwide, exposing pregnant women to growing health risks. While previous literature has demonstrated an association between prenatal flood exposure and low birth weight (LBW) in offspring, evidence in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) remains limited.

methodsIn this cross-sectional study, birth records from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) were geospatially matched with flood data from the Dartmouth Flood Observatory (DFO). A total of 290,008 singleton live births across 36 African LMICs were analyzed. Logistic regression models were employed to estimate odds ratios (ORs) for the association between prenatal flood exposure and LBW prevalence. The burden of LBW attributable to prenatal flood exposure was estimated across 28 of 36 African LMICs.

resultsWe observed positive associations between prenatal flood exposure and LBW (OR: 1.076, 95% CI: 1.028 to 1.128), with the effect sizes escalating progressively across severity exposure levels (P for trend = 0.003). Higher odds ratios were found among urban residents, mothers of advanced maternal age (≥ 35 years), and households utilizing unsafe water or flush toilets. We estimated that prenatal flood exposure was associated with approximately 234 excess LBW cases per 1,000 births per decade, totaling 467,904 (95% CI: 180,434 to 751,720) over the 21-year study period (from 2000 to 2020) across 28 African LMICs.

conclusionsOur findings highlight the urgency of addressing health disparities stemming from prenatal floods and extreme environmental events for neonatal health promotion.

Indexed as

FloodsInfant, Low Birth WeightPrenatal Exposure Delayed EffectsAdultAfricaCross-Sectional StudiesFemaleHumansInfant, NewbornPregnancyRisk FactorsYoung AdultCross-sectional studyDisease burdenLow- and middle-income countriesLow birth weightPrenatal flood exposure

Identifiers

PMID42015216
PMCPMC13231584

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.