{
  "abstract": "Background: Climate-related flooding and extreme heat affect maternal and child wellbeing in low-and middle-income countries. Although evidence suggests that climate-related events can affect mental health and child wellbeing, little is known about how these experiences are described in flood-prone settings. This study explores participants’ accounts of flooding, extreme heat, and household vulnerability in Benue State and their perceived implications for maternal mental health and early childhood development.\n\nMethods: A qualitative descriptive design was used. Data were collected through six focus group discussions and six semi-structured interviews with 54 mothers, health workers, community leaders, and policymakers and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.\n\nResults: Participants described flooding as a recurrent threat shaped by spatial vulnerability, poor drainage, and inadequate land-use planning. Participants described flooding in relation to disrupted routines, livelihoods, food and water security, and caregiving; mothers and health workers also described extreme heat as disrupting sleep and caregiving. Participants described maternal psychological distress associated with uncertainty, household disruption, economic losses, and caregiving demands. Participants described challenges affecting children’s nutrition, healthcare access, immunisation, learning, safety, and social development. Community coping strategies included collective action and social support, while participants described gaps in formal responses.\n\nConclusion: The findings highlight interconnected experiences of climate-related disruption, maternal distress, caregiving, and conditions relevant to early childhood wellbeing. Responses could support continuity of health services, nutrition, early learning, safe environments, psychosocial support, and community participation.",
  "abstract_shown": true,
  "affiliations": [
    "IVAN Research Institute",
    "Department of Sociology/Anthropology, University of Nigeria",
    "Department of Psychiatry, University of Oxford",
    "College of Medicine, University of Nigeria",
    "Division of Nursing, Midwifery and Social Work, University of Manchester",
    "Division of Medical Education, University of Manchester",
    "Department of General Planning, Hanoi Medical University Hospital, Hanoi Medical University",
    "Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester"
  ],
  "article_type": null,
  "arxiv": null,
  "author_total": 10,
  "authors": [
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "Ngozi Idemili-Aronu"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        1
      ],
      "name": "John Jemisenia"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        2
      ],
      "name": "Deborah Aluh"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        0,
        3
      ],
      "name": "Echezona Edozie Ezeanolue"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Rathi Ravindrarajah"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Amy Blakemore"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        5
      ],
      "name": "Zahra Mulla"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4,
        6
      ],
      "name": "Tung Le"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        4
      ],
      "name": "Asri Maharani"
    },
    {
      "affs": [
        7
      ],
      "name": "Jahanara Miah"
    }
  ],
  "bibtex": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ewe1w44chr0pr.bib",
  "cited_by": 0,
  "doi": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1940042",
  "fulltext_url": null,
  "id": "ewe1w44chr0pr",
  "issns": [
    "2296-2565"
  ],
  "landing_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1940042/full",
  "language": null,
  "licence": "CC-BY-4.0",
  "licence_label": "CC BY 4.0",
  "licence_source": "article",
  "licence_url": "https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/",
  "metadata_licence": null,
  "native_subjects": [
    [
      "openalex",
      "2307|Climate Change and Health Impacts"
    ]
  ],
  "openalex": "W7224106493",
  "pdf_url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1940042/pdf",
  "pmcid": null,
  "pmid": null,
  "published": "2026-10-28",
  "publisher": "Frontiers Media SA",
  "ris": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ewe1w44chr0pr.ris",
  "sources": [
    {
      "first_seen": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
      "native_id": "10.3389/fpubh.2026.1940042",
      "source": "crossref",
      "url": "https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2026.1940042/full"
    }
  ],
  "subjects": [
    {
      "field": "medicine",
      "origin": "openalex:2307|Climate Change and Health Impacts",
      "subfield": "pharmacology-toxicology"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Experiences of maternal distress and early childhood development amid climate-related stress in Benue state, Nigeria: a qualitative study",
  "title_text": "Experiences of maternal distress and early childhood development amid climate-related stress in Benue state, Nigeria: a qualitative study",
  "type": "peer-reviewed",
  "updated_at": "2026-10-30T12:20:24Z",
  "url": "https://research.draconitic.com/paper/ewe1w44chr0pr",
  "venue": "Frontiers in Public Health",
  "versions": []
}