Category Archives: public health

Midwives and the U.S.

As a childfree/childless adult, giving birth is not something that I think about a lot on a personal level, but it is something that most of my clients, many of my friends and family will at some point do, if they have not already. In college, my friends and I watched The Business of BeingContinue reading “Midwives and the U.S.”

Flint is Still Dealing with the Impact of Poisoned Water

The state of Michigan has just ended the free bottled water program for residents in Flint, Michigan although the process of replacing old lead pipes for thousands of residents continues. Testing shows that lead levels have dropped beneath the federal action limit, but for residents who lived through the state’s mismanagement of the Flint WaterContinue reading “Flint is Still Dealing with the Impact of Poisoned Water”

“In 21st-Century America, no woman should die in childbirth.” … But they do

“Maternity care desert is is where there is limited access for women who are pregnant.”  Access to health care is not just as simple as facilities being open. The distance someone has to travel to get to that facility also matters. The people who live in “Maternity Desert” in Washington , D.C. are predominantly African American,Continue reading ““In 21st-Century America, no woman should die in childbirth.” … But they do”

Sesame Street Tackles Adverse Childhood Experiences

A special initiative from Sesame Street, called Sesame Street in Communities, has created videos, worksheets, and educational tools to help children deal with trauma. A study that began in 1995, the CDC-Kaiser Permanente Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, established that trauma experience, particularly repeated or multiple sources of trauma, can have long-term health impacts on one’sContinue reading “Sesame Street Tackles Adverse Childhood Experiences”

Good Ratings ≠ Good Debate

“Looking back, it’s bananas that anyone included the Tobacco Institute in public health debates.” While I stand firmly in the camp of gun control, I understand (some) of the reasons why others may want to own guns. However, it is bananas that when gun control debates are presented on television, they’re presented generally between victims ofContinue reading “Good Ratings ≠ Good Debate”

Links Roundup: Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality

Higher rates of maternal death among Black women in the US have been evident in research for a long time but have lately gotten a lot more mainstream coverage. The increase in coverage is important to raising awareness and implementing changes in health care that would improve outcomes, but it has unfortunately come out ofContinue reading “Links Roundup: Racial Disparities in Maternal Mortality”

Get a Flu Shot!

It seems like everywhere I go right now, people are talking about the flu. There are definitely years where it seems like it takes out more people than others, but it does actually seem to be pretty bad this year. Regarding flu deaths this year, the CDC says: The proportion of deaths attributed to pneumonia and influenzaContinue reading “Get a Flu Shot!”

Evidence is a Downer – But We Need It

In a season 6 episode of Parks and Recreation, City Councilwoman Leslie Knope decides to champion adding fluoride to the drinking water to prevent endemic cavities. Leslie, in her usual way, provides ample evidence in large binders supporting her position and expects everyone to join her side. However, her rival on City Council, a corrupt dentist,Continue reading “Evidence is a Downer – But We Need It”

Pop Public Health: “The Pill”

Country legend Loretta Lynn married at 15 and had 4 children before age 20. (And a few years later had twins!) Her musical success in the 1950s and 60s was a triumph for women, who had few country icons. Many of Lynn’s most successful songs discussed her family life, motherhood, and being a real countryContinue reading “Pop Public Health: “The Pill””