Open Collections

Mangat, Navneet

Background: Preterm birth (PTB) is the leading cause of global neonatal mortality, with rates steadily rising in Canada. Previous evidence suggests an association between prenatal ambient temperature exposure and PTB, however, this relationship remains poorly understood. As global climate change may exacerbate extreme temperature fluctuations, there is a need to clarify the relationship between temperature exposure and PTB risk. A scoping review was conducted to examine the current state of literature regarding prenatal ambient temperature exposure and PTB risk. Methods: A scoping review was conducted and 10 published articles were analyzed using the Arksey and O’Malley methodological framework and the Garrard Matrix Method. Systematic searches were conducted using CINAHL, MEDLINE, and Web of Science databases. Findings: Significant associations were reported between high ambient temperature exposure and PTB risk during all three trimesters, with the second trimester as the most commonly identified period of vulnerability. The relationship between low ambient temperature exposure and PTB risk remained inconclusive, with negative and positive associations observed during different gestational trimesters. Conclusion: The review of the literature suggested that prenatal ambient temperature exposure is a significant risk factor for PTB. Based on the findings, nursing-led initiatives are recommended to develop appropriate client education, risk mitigation policies, and climate-based nursing curriculum. Future research is recommended to address gaps within the literature, specifically the consideration of demographic factors, rural populations, and colder/ dry climate regions to further clarify the relationship between ambient temperature exposure and PTB risk.

Graduating Project

eng

2022-04-07

Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International

http://hdl.handle.net/2429/81113

UBCV

Graduate

DSpace