Phoebe Cohen

Environmental exposures impact adverse birth outcomes. Many studies have shown that exposure to natural disasters increases the risk of low birth weight, which remains a pressing public health problem, especially in low- and middle-income countries. However, most of these studies are in high-income countries, and results might not be generalizable to low-income settings. 

My research focuses on birth weight before and after the environmental exposure of a category five cyclone (Cyclone Pam, 2015) in Vanuatu, a lower-middle-income country in the South Pacific. The database I plan to use includes all births between 2009 and 2016 at the central hospital in Vanuatu. By comparing the birth weight of neonates exposed to cyclone Pam in different trimesters, I will analyze the connection between exposure to environmental disasters and birth weight. In addition, I will study how the cyclone affected the birth weight of boys and girls. I also will examine whether the cyclone impacted the general trend of birth weight in Vanuatu by year. Since cyclone Pam led to a malaria outbreak, which is associated with low birth weight, I will control malaria in my analysis. The cyclone also led to flooding and increased food insecurity in Vanuatu, increasing pregnant women's risk of iron deficiency anemia (due to the lack of iron-rich foods). Anemia in pregnant women is also associated with low birth weight, so I will control for anemia. Parity, or the number of times a person has given birth, is also associated with birth weight; therefore, I will control for parity. I will use linear regression to predict the birth weight based on the impact of Cyclone Pam. 

My research of the risks of low birth weight associated with Cyclone Pam will add to the existing studies and help disaster response officials be more prepared to assist pregnant women during and following natural disasters if they anticipate the risks better.