Events

Abstract: A rapidly growing body of literature documents the effect of extreme heat on a range of demographic and health outcomes. In this context, migration and mortality have received ample attention. However, our understanding of how extreme heat affects maternal and infant health remains limited, and so do the mechanisms underlying these relationships. Such mechanisms could be both biological and behavioral, but are difficult to disentangle because they are usually not directly observed in demographic data sources. In this talk, I present findings from several empirical studies on the effect of extreme heat on sex ratios at birth, antenatal care utilization, and infant mortality in low- and middle-income countries. I reflect on data linkage, measurement, and statistical modelling challenges that arise in the identification of temperature impacts and mechanisms across a range of populations and geographic settings. I conclude by highlighting emerging issues around temperature as an early life exposure and address how future data collections can aid the study of temperature impacts on population health and social outcomes. 

The Sociology Seminar Series for Trinity Term is convened by Jan O Jonsson, Ridhi Kashyap, Colin Mills and Christiaan Monden. For more information about this or any of the seminars in the series, please contact sociology.secretary@nuffield.ox.ac.uk.