Exposure to oil pollution and maternal outcomes: The Niger Delta prospective cohort study

Abstract

Background Maternal exposure to oil pollution is an important public health concern. However, there is a dearth of literature on the effects of maternal exposure to oil pollution on maternal outcomes in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. This study was therefore designed to determine the effect of maternal exposure to oil pollution on maternal outcomes in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria. Methods Prospective cohort study design involving 1720 pregnant women followed from pregnancy to delivery was conducted. The participants were 18–45 years old at a gestational age of less than 17 weeks, who attended randomly selected health facilities in the areas with high exposure and low exposure to oil pollution in the Niger Delta, Nigeria. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered questionnaire and review of medical records from April 2018 to April 2019. Multivariate log-binomial model was used to examine the effect of maternal exposure to oil pollution on the risk of adverse maternal outcomes adjusting for sociodemographic, maternal and lifestyle characteristics. Results A total of 1418 women completed the follow-up and were included in the analysis. Women in high exposure areas had a higher incidence of premature rupture of membrane (PROM), caesarean section (CS) and postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) compared to women in areas with low exposure to oil pollution. After adjusting for cofounders, women in high exposure areas also had a higher risk of PROM (ARR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.24–3.10) and PPH (ARR = 2.12; 95% CI: 1.28–3.36) in Model I–III when compared to women in areas with low exposure to oil pollution. However, pregnancy-induced hypertension and CS had no association with maternal exposure area status to oil pollution. Conclusion Women in high exposure areas are at a higher risk of PROM and PPH. This calls for policies and intervention toward reducing maternal exposure to oil pollution in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria.

Link between Oil Pollution and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes in the Niger Delta Region of Nigeria

“…Additionally, in a prospective cohort study examining the effects of maternal exposure to oil pollution in the Nigerian Niger Delta region, pregnant women were tracked from conception to delivery: Women in high exposure areas experienced a higher incidence of preterm birth following premature rupture of the membrane (PROM) than women in areas with low exposure to oil pollution. Even after adjusting for confounding variables, women in high exposure areas still showed a higher risk of early rupture of the membranes and preterm delivery as compared to women in low exposure areas to oil pollution [30]. This suggests once more that exposure to oil pollution is a factor in the unfavorable outcomes of pregnancy.…”

A Systematic Review of the Impacts of Oil Spillage on Residents of Oil-Producing Communities in Nigeria

“…Different health impacts of oil spillage on oil-producing communities were reported by Ezejimofor et al, (2016), Nriagu et al, (2016), Ilevbare and Idemudia (2019) and Oghenetega et al, (2022). They observed that residency in oil spill-impacted areas affected pregnant women, induced hypertension among the residents, and negatively impacted their mental health.…”

Primary maternal healthcare service utilization among pregnant women in the oil producing Nchia-Eleme community in Nigeria

“…16 Pregnant women resident in such crude oil polluted areas become more vulnerable to health anomalies. 17 Therefore, their utilization of primary maternal healthcare such as ANC and birth services becomes vital for the early detection and treatment of complications. 18 The objective of this study was to examine the primary maternal healthcare service utilization among pregnant women in the oil-producing Nchia-Eleme community in Nigeria.…”