Reproductive Health News and Research

RSS

Texas budget cutting causes closure of 50 clinics offering family planning services

Cuts to Texas' budget have caused more than 50 clinics that provide family planning services to close, a new study in the New England Journal of Medicine reports.

28 Sep 2012

Women's eNews examines maternal health in Morocco

"Morocco has made great strides in improving maternal health in recent years, decreasing its maternal mortality ratio by over 60 percent since 1990," but "a wide maternal health gap" exists between women in urban and rural areas, where deliveries generally are attended by an experienced yet untrained family member, Women's eNews reports.

26 Sep 2012

GlobalECHO Foundation commits to provide funding support to Panzi Hospital in DRC

The GlobalECHO Foundation, a 501(3) charitable foundation dedicated to providing innovative funding solutions to many of the challenges facing the world community, yesterday announced its commitment to provide funding support to the Panzi Hospital in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

25 Sep 2012

Transmitted HIV strains may have evolutionary advantage, suggest scientists

A new study has found that even though HIV diversifies widely within infected individuals over time, the virus strains that ultimately are passed on through heterosexual transmission often resemble the strain of virus that originally infected the transmitting partner.

24 Sep 2012

Gates blog series on World Contraception Day

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog continues its series, published in partnership with Women Deliver, to recognize World Contraception Day, observed annually on September 26.

21 Sep 2012

Blog examines importance of access to family planning information, contraceptives for young people

"Young or old, family planning should be a simple and personal decision made by informed individuals or couples regarding how often and when to have children," Anne Alan Sizomu, the advocacy officer for Deutsche Stiftung Weltbevoelkerung's (DSW) Uganda country office, writes in this post in the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's "Impatient Optimists" blog, published in partnership with Women Deliver as part of a series on youth perspectives to recognize World Contraception Day, observed annually on September 26.

19 Sep 2012

Anti-abortion Democrats not feeling the warmth of convention's limelight

At the Democratic National Convention last week, support for reproductive health -; including the right to an abortion -; was in the prime-time spotlight. But the convention's aggressive appeal to women left one group out in the cold: Democrats who oppose abortion.

10 Sep 2012

Grandparents likely to provide different types of care

Grandparents, an increasingly important source of child care in the United States, vary greatly in the kind of care they provide, depending on their age, resources, and the needs of their children, research at the University of Chicago shows.

7 Sep 2012

Lawmakers in the Philippines working to negotiate compromise on reproductive health bill

"After 14 years in limbo," legislation being considered by the Philippines Congress would "requir[e] the government to provide contraceptives, information on modern family planning methods at public health centers, and comprehensive reproductive health curriculum in schools," CNN reports.

5 Sep 2012

Democrats to spotlight health care, abortion rights support at convention

Party leaders will be touting the health overhaul passed two years ago, as well as efforts to expand contraception coverage. In addition, the platform looks ahead at issues such as health disparities, public health and HIV, Politico Pro reports.

5 Sep 2012

First Edition: September 4, 2012

Today's early morning highlights from the major news organizations, including previews of the Democratic convention and a New York Times analysis of how the Obama and Romney campaigns vary on Medicaid policy.

4 Sep 2012

Viewpoints: Who should fear changes to Medicare; Ryan not a 'Serious, Honest Conservative'

For those of us who like to believe that human beings are rational, trying to explain what happens in politics is a challenge. For example, that segment of the population that has the least to fear from a reform of Medicare or Social Security is the most fearful -- namely, those already receiving Medicare or Social Security benefits.

1 Sep 2012

Insuring your health: Health law has gaps in men's care

In her latest Kaiser Health News consumer column, Michelle Andrews writes: "The federal health care overhaul greatly expanded women's access to free preventive services, particularly for sexual and reproductive health. Men didn't fare nearly as well."

29 Aug 2012

First Edition: August 28, 2012

Today's headlines include reports about new polling insights regarding the presidential campaign and Medicare, as well as what might become of the House of Representatives.

28 Aug 2012

Abortion issues emerge as distraction for Republicans

GOP presidential hopeful Mitt Romney charges Democrats with trying to exploit comments made by Missouri Republican Senate candidate Todd Akin for political gain.

28 Aug 2012

Obama, Romney exchange barbs on Medicare, abortion

The former Massachusetts governor, responding to charges of a GOP "war on women," says his state health overhaul provided health care for "all women and men." The president, meanwhile, fights back against charges that he is taking money out of Medicare by asserting he wants to strengthen and preverve the program. Both campaigns also debut new ads on Medicare.

27 Aug 2012

On campaign trail, polls and politics swirl around Medicare, abortion debates

A New York Times/CBS News/Quinnipiac poll finds that even in the midst of the Medicare debate, presumptive GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney appears to have gained ground in Florida and other swing states.

24 Aug 2012

Planned Parenthood in Texas braces for end to state funding

Officials are moving quickly to end state funding for Planned Parenthood, which for now remains a part of the Texas' Women's Health Program despite a judge's ruling that state funds can be stopped while a related lawsuit is pending.

24 Aug 2012

Pregnant women have higher rate of undiagnosed depression

Major depression affects as many as 16% of reproductive-aged women in the U.S. Yet pregnant women have a higher rate of undiagnosed depression than nonpregnant women, according to a study published in Journal of Women's Health, a peer-reviewed publication from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers.

21 Aug 2012

State news: Tenn. abortion clinic closes; Tex. wrestles with funding for Women's Health Program; Mich. lawmakers pass bill to cut state share of teachers' health care

A Knoxville abortion provider has closed after 38 years, citing a newly enacted Tennessee law that requires doctors to hold admitting privileges at local hospitals. The Volunteer Women's Medical Clinic in Knoxville closed Friday. In a public letter titled "End of an Era," Executive Director Deb Walsh wrote that she was unable to keep their doors open in part due to the "Life Defense Act," which requires physicians to obtain admitting privileges at area hospitals.

18 Aug 2012