Association of Ambient Temperature at Delivery with Selected Adverse Pregnancy and Neonatal Outcomes: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study from Western India

Background: Pregnancy-related physiological changes may increase vulnerability to environmental stressors such as ambient temperature. Evidence from western India regarding the association between temperature and adverse pregnancy outcomes remains limited. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 1,346 institutional deliveries at a tertiary care teaching hospital in Gujarat, India. Mean ambient temperature on the day of delivery was obtained from official meteorological records and categorized as 30°C. Maternal and neonatal outcomes including preterm birth, low birth weight, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal death (IUFD), congenital anomalies and neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) admission were assessed. Associations were evaluated using chi-square tests and multivariable logistic regression. Results: Preterm birth occurred in 20.3% of deliveries and increased significantly with rising temperature. Higher proportions of preterm birth, stillbirth, IUFD and NICU admission were observed at temperatures >30°C (p<0.05). Multivariable analysis showed that higher ambient temperature remained independently associated with increased odds of preterm birth. Conclusion: Higher ambient temperature at delivery was associated with adverse pregnancy outcomes, particularly preterm birth and NICU admission.