A Systematic Review on the Impact of Flooding on Prenatal Health Outcomes

Floods, the most common natural disaster, have various implications for human health. While previous research has shown the effect of floods on general populations, addressing the effect of floods on vulnerable groups is limited. Pregnant women and newborns may be particularly vulnerable and at risk during flood events, facing challenges such as disruption of perinatal care, evacuation and displacement, scarcity of essential resources, and psychological and physiological stress. This systematic review aims to synthesize existing research and conduct a meta-analysis to clarify the impact of flood-related events on birth outcomes, including low birthweight and preterm birth. Our population was pregnant during flood-related events. We included research that studied hurricanes, floods, cyclones, and typhoons. Our search identified 3,177 studies screened, 64 studies in full-text review, and 31 studies for potential inclusion in the meta-analysis. We aim to provide insights into the risks faced by pregnant women and newborns during flood-related events, informing future research and public health interventions.