Weather Information Seeking and Heat-Health Protective Actions During Pregnancy: An Exploratory Study

Area of Science:

• Environmental Health
• Maternal Health
• Public Health Communication

Background:

• Extreme heat presents significant health risks for pregnant individuals.
• Understanding how pregnant individuals access weather information for heat-health actions is crucial but understudied.

Purpose of the Study:

• To examine the association between weather information seeking behaviors and heat-health protective actions in pregnant individuals.
• To explore how these behaviors vary across pregnancy trimesters.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional survey was conducted with 195 pregnant individuals in Bexar County, TX, during summer/fall 2024.
• Descriptive and nonparametric analyses were used to explore relationships across trimesters.
• Data analyzed associations between routine/event-driven information seeking and protective actions (e.g., hydration, AC use, plan changes).

Main Results:

• Participants reported high routine weather information seeking and increased needs during pregnancy.
• Over half (51.3%) increased weather information seeking during excessive heat, with lower increases in the first trimester.
• Increased information needs correlated with protective actions; routine checking showed weak links to changing plans, especially later in pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Pregnant individuals demonstrate increased weather information seeking and protective actions, particularly in later trimesters.
• Pregnancy-specific heat risk communication, including trimester-specific guidance, is vital for clinical counseling and public health messaging.
• Routine weather awareness alone may not be sufficient to prompt significant behavioral changes like altering plans due to heat.