Harassment, lack of toilets cause pre-term births in India

Water scarcity, harassment, lack of toilets – a new study has identified some of these factors as reasons for pre-term births in India.

The study from the University of Iowa says that women who spend more time fetching water, use a shared latrine, and endure harassment are more apt to give birth to a pre-term or low-birth weight babies. The findings by researchers in the University of Iowa College of Public Health came from a study that examines the complex relationships between water and sanitation access and social conditions on birth outcomes among women in India.

Globally, preterm birth (PTB) and low infant birth weight (LBW) are leading causes of maternal and child illnesses and death. In low-income countries, the challenges women face to meet their basic water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) needs may be a major contributor to adverse health outcomes.

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