Women health relation with rising heat

Context:

The study was conducted by the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai. Rising extreme heat disproportionately impacts women’s physical, mental, and social health, making climate change a gendered public health crisis.

UPSC Relevance:

Health

UPSC PYQ:

Discuss the positive and negative effects of globalization on women in India? (2015)  

About Study:

M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation (MSSRF), Chennai finding:

• Covered 7 Indian states:
  • Rajasthan
  • Gujarat
  • Maharashtra
  • Bihar
  • Odisha
  • Telangana
  • Tamil Nadu

• 3300 women surveyed

• Districts were classified using a Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI):
  • High vulnerability
  • Medium vulnerability
  • Low vulnerability

Major Health Risks Observed in Women:

Physical Health Impacts

• Fatigue and dizziness
• Dehydration
• Gastrointestinal distress
• Urinary Tract Infections (UTIs)
• Irregular menstruation
• Excessive bleeding
• Reproductive health complications

Mental Health Impacts

• Heightened anxiety
• Anger and irritability
• Restlessness
• Sleep disturbances
• Psychological stress

Social Consequences

• Greater economic vulnerability
• Increased household stress
• Rising domestic tensions and violence

Who Are the Most Vulnerable Women?

• Women at highest risk were:
  • From rural areasPoor and lower-caste communities
  • Working in the informal sector
  • Performing dual labour (domestic work + wage labour)
• Statistical Evidence:
  • 24% in low-HVI districts
  • 70% of women in high-HVI districts reported severe symptoms
  • 28% in medium-HVI

Failure of Health Access and Treatment:

• Only 1% of affected women sought medical treatment
• 97% remained untreated
• Reasons include:
  • Poor access to healthcare
  • Financial constraints
  • Lack of awareness
  • Social barriers

Role of Power, Water & Household Burdens

During extreme heat:

• Frequent power outages
• Water shortages
• Increase in domestic and care work
• Overcrowded housing

These factors sharply increase:

• Gendered labour burden
• Physical exhaustion
• Mental stress

Climate change is not gender-neutral; women experience climate shocks more intensely due to biological, social, and economic vulnerabilities.

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