Bushfires and Mothers’ Mental Health in Pregnancy and Recent Post-Partum

Nicolas Cherbuin (), Amita Bansal, Jane E. Dahlstrom, Hazel Carlisle, Margaret Broom, Ralph Nanan, Stewart Sutherland, Sotiris Vardoulakis, Christine B. Phillips, Michael J. Peek, Bruce K. Christensen, Deborah Davis and Christopher J. Nolan
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Nicolas Cherbuin: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Amita Bansal: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Jane E. Dahlstrom: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Hazel Carlisle: The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia
Margaret Broom: The Canberra Hospital, Canberra Health Services, Garran, ACT 2605, Australia
Ralph Nanan: Sydney Medical School and Charles Perkins Centre Nepean, University of Sydney, Penrith, NSW 2750, Australia
Stewart Sutherland: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Sotiris Vardoulakis: National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Christine B. Phillips: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Michael J. Peek: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Bruce K. Christensen: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia
Deborah Davis: School of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
Christopher J. Nolan: School of Medicine and Psychology, Australian National University, Canberra, ACT 2601, Australia

IJERPH, 2023, vol. 21, issue 1, 1-15

Abstract: Background: The compounding effects of climate change catastrophes such as bushfires and pandemics impose significant burden on individuals, societies, and their economies. The enduring effects of such syndemics on mental health remain poorly understood, particularly for at-risk populations (e.g., pregnant women and newborns). The aim of this study was to investigate the impact of direct and indirect exposure to the 2019/20 Australian Capital Territory and South-Eastern New South Wales bushfires followed by COVID-19 on the mental health and wellbeing of pregnant women and mothers with newborn babies. Methods: All women who were pregnant, had given birth, or were within three months of conceiving during the 2019/2020 bushfires, lived within the catchment area, and provided consent were invited to participate. Those who consented were asked to complete three online surveys. Mental health was assessed with the DASS-21 and the WHO-5. Bushfire, smoke, and COVID-19 exposures were assessed by self-report. Cross-sectional associations between exposures and mental health measures were tested with hierarchical regression models. Results: Of the women who participated, and had minimum data ( n = 919), most (>75%) reported at least one acute bushfire exposure and 63% reported severe smoke exposure. Compared to Australian norms, participants had higher depression (+12%), anxiety (+35%), and stress (+43%) scores. Women with greater exposure to bushfires/smoke but not COVID-19 had poorer scores on all mental health measures. Conclusions: These findings provide novel evidence that the mental health of pregnant women and mothers of newborn babies is vulnerable to major climate catastrophes such as bushfires.

Keywords: pregnancy; bushfires; COVID; mental health; wellbeing (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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