More exposure to vegetation linked with lower mortality rates in women
For immediate release: Thursday, April 14, 2016 Boston, MA ─ Women in the U.S. who live in homes surrounded by more vegetation appear to have significantly lower mortality rates than those who live in areas with less vegetation,…
Colonoscopies and mammograms top list of ‘most-shopped’ health care services
Millennials with higher deductible spending compare prices most, study shows For immediate release: April 4, 2016 Boston, MA – Colonoscopies, mammograms, and childbirth services are the most searched-for medical services when it comes to cost information—and millennials with higher annual…
Many U.S. families considering pregnancy don’t know Zika facts
Four in 10 among general public mistakenly believe Zika virus infection in women likely to harm future pregnancies For immediate release: March 29, 2016 Boston, MA – Many people in U.S. households where someone is pregnant or considering…
Sri Lanka’s low maternal mortality rate represents ‘success story’
In South Asia, where countries have often struggled with high maternal mortality rates, Sri Lanka stands out for its relatively low numbers of maternal deaths. In Sri Lanka, the maternal mortality ratio (MMR)—the number of maternal deaths per…
Longevity gap between rich and poor expanding
Despite medical, technological, and educational advances in the U.S. over the last 50 years, the longevity gap between the rich and poor continues to grow, said Lisa Berkman in an interview on PBS NewsHour Weekend. Berkman, Thomas D.…
Evaluating antenatal and postnatal care around the globe
Antenatal (ANC) and postnatal (PNC) care for women—crucial for ensuring healthy pregnancies, safe deliveries, and healthy mothers and babies—is the focus of several new studies involving researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health. The four studies,…
Presidential candidates say little about health challenges
The current presidential candidates “have precious little to say” about some of the most compelling challenges relating to the nation’s health—such as the fact that Americans are living shorter lives and experiencing poorer health than people in many…
The road ahead for maternal and newborn health
Experts in maternal and newborn health gathered for a panel discussion at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health on February 4, 2016. Sponsored by the School’s Department of Global Health and Population, Women and Health Initiative, and…
Zika highlights tension around public health directives
With the mosquito-borne Zika virus linked to a dramatic rise in severe birth defects in Brazil, health officials in nearby countries are advising women to delay plans to become pregnant. But women’s rights advocates have countered that the recommendations…
Climate change expanding range of Zika-carrying mosquito
Evidence suggests that climate change is expanding the territory of the mosquito that transmits the Zika virus, as well as two other tropical viruses now spreading north: dengue and chikungunya. Prolonged warm temperatures also create the conditions for…