CSDE Affiliate Jeremy Hess (Global Health, Emergency Medicine, EOHS) published a study in Public Health that examined the effects of heat on pregnant women’s use of health services, the health facility working environment and the impact of heat on the quality of care in Burkina Faso. Hess and co-authors conducted individual interviews and focus group discussions (FGD) with pregnant women, postpartum women, health providers and community leaders, women of reproductive age, as well as relatives and male spouses of women who recently had given birth.  Extreme heat reduced attendance and use of health services by pregnant and postpartum women. The women’s choice of delivery center depended on the quality of the health centers, notably whether they were equipped with cooling systems. All stakeholders agreed that extreme heat affected the relationship between caregivers and patients, especially facilities with inadequate cooling infrastructures or cramped spaces.

CSDE Affiliate Sameer Shah (Environmental and Forest Sciences) just published an article in PLOS Water that identifies four water insecurity concerns in the U.S and proposes areas for future research. Shah synthesized public reporting and legal filings involving non-governmental organizations, citizen coalition groups, investigative reporters, and individual citizens. These concerns include how datacenters’ development and operation can (i) undermine the democratization of water governance; (ii) contribute to unsustainable water use and rising utility costs; (iii) reduce the flexibility and resilience of water use decision-making; and (iv) increase water use across scales as a result of rising electricity demand.