Mental Health Disparities Among Maternal Populations Following Heatwave Exposure in North Carolina (2011-2019)

The increasing incidence of extreme heat due to climate change poses a significant and emerging threat to maternal mental health in the U.S. We examine the impact of acute exposure to heatwaves and maternal mental health conditions, including perinatal mood and anxiety disorders (PMAD), maternal mental disorders of pregnancy (MDP), severe mental illness (SMI), suicidal thoughts, and substance abuse in North Carolina from May to September of 2011 to 2019. We incorporate a matched analysis design using emergency department admissions to identify disparities in maternal mental health outcomes following acute heatwave exposure and effect modification across the rural-urban continuum, physiographic regions, measurements of neighborhood racial and economic inequality, and individual-level sociodemographic factors (age, race/ethnicity, and insurance type). Our findings reveal heightened maternal mental health burden during acute heatwave periods for PMAD, MDP, and SMI. Our results contribute to emerging evidence on the implications of extreme heat on maternal mental health, particularly for minority populations and in suburban areas.<p></p>