Impact of flood-triggering rainfall on adverse pregnancy outcomes in Pakistan: A quantitative analysis

Climate change poses substantial and alarming global health concerns. Multiple studies highlight the disproportionately adverse impact of climate shocks on maternal and infant health outcomes. However, there is a lack of research regarding the effects of specific disasters, such as floods, on perinatal health. The purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of flood-triggering rainfall shocks on the risk of pregnancy loss (stillbirth, miscarriage, and spontaneous abortion) in Pakistan. Moreover, the study explores the potential impact of age, education, and wealth status on the vulnerability and likelihood of adverse pregnancy outcomes. This study uses microdata from three Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey waves (2006-2007, 2012-2013, and 2017-2018) and precipitation data from 29 meteorological stations in Pakistan for 2003-2018. We utilized a linear probability model to perform a cross-sectional analysis and conducted various robustness checks to ensure the model's reliability. We found a positive and statistically significant link between exposure to floods and the likelihood of losing a pregnancy. The study also indicates that younger women, individuals with lesser educational achievements, and those from less wealthy households are more likely to report a pregnancy loss.