The impact of landscape fire smoke on birth outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa
Official title: Landscape fire smoke and birth outcomes in Sub Saharan Africa
Funded at Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe · NIH-11128848 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how smoke from fires in fields might affect pregnancy and the health of babies in Sub-Saharan Africa, aiming to understand if this smoke is linked to issues like low birth weight and early births, so we can help improve health for moms and their little ones.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Harare, Zimbabwe) |
| Project start | September 14, 2023 |
| Project end | August 31, 2026 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $75,000 |
| NIH project number | 3U01ES036146-02S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11128848 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include pregnant women and their newborns living in areas of Sub-Saharan Africa where landscape fires are prevalent.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are not pregnant or do not reside in regions affected by landscape fire smoke may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how exposure to landscape fire smoke affects pregnancy and child health outcomes in Sub-Saharan Africa, a region significantly impacted by agricultural fires. The study aims to quantify the relationship between landscape fire smoke and adverse birth outcomes, such as low birth weight and preterm births, by analyzing data from selected cohorts. It will also develop a data infrastructure to better understand the effects of air quality on maternal and child health. By focusing on this specific environmental factor, the research seeks to fill gaps in existing knowledge and provide targeted insights for improving health outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved maternal and child health policies and interventions in regions affected by landscape fire smoke.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing research on air pollution and birth outcomes, this specific focus on landscape fire smoke in Sub-Saharan Africa is relatively novel and untested.
Where this research is happening
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Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Makanga, Prestige Tatenda — Centre/sexual Hlth/hiv Aid Res/zimbabwe
- Study coordinator: Makanga, Prestige Tatenda
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.