Maternal Health News and Research

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New Series on Maternal Health highlights future challenges, strategies to improve maternal wellbeing

Each year, about 210 million women become pregnant and about 140 million newborn babies are delivered. While progress has been made in reducing maternal mortality globally, differences remain at international and national levels. The gap between the groups of countries with the lowest and highest rates of maternal mortality has doubled between 1990 and 2013.

21 Sep 2016

UGA forms partnership with The Forum Institute to implement preconception to infancy initiative

The University of Georgia College of Public Health has announced a new strategic partnership with The Forum Institute, an Oregon-based nonprofit think tank, to implement a first-of-its-kind preconception to infancy public health initiative for the state of Georgia.

11 Sep 2016

Breastfeeding for longer than 6 months can lower breast cancer mortality risk

A new study of women 20 years after undergoing surgery for primary breast cancer shows that breastfeeding for longer than 6 months is associated with a better survival rate.

31 Aug 2016

Study points to deep disruptions caused by Ebola epidemic to pregnancy services

The first known household survey examining the collateral harm to pregnancy services in areas affected by the West African Ebola epidemic suggests a significant slide backwards in child and maternal health.

3 Aug 2016

University of Southampton hosts two virtual workshops to address Breastfeeding Dilemma

How do we support and encourage breastfeeding, without subjecting those who are unable, or choose not to, breastfeed to shame and guilt?

29 Jul 2016

High-fructose diet during pregnancy may affect fetal growth

Consuming a high-fructose diet during pregnancy may cause defects in the placenta and restrict fetal growth, potentially increasing a baby's risk for metabolic health problems later in life, according to research in mice and people by a team at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis.

5 May 2016

Developing countries face health financing crisis due to low domestic investment, stagnating international aid

Two major studies published in The Lancet reveal the health financing crisis facing developing countries as a result of low domestic investment and stagnating international aid, which could leave millions of people without access to even the most basic health services.

18 Apr 2016

Funding improves for maternal, child health compared to donor investments in HIV, TB and malaria

Funding earmarked for improving maternal and child health in low- and middle-income countries has grown faster since 2010 than funding for HIV, TB, and malaria.

16 Apr 2016

WHO sends experts to monitor Zika virus in Cabo Verde

Responding to a request from the Ministry of Health in Cabo Verde, the World Health Organization is sending a team to Cabo Verde, with joint participation of experts from WHO AFRO and the Institut Pasteur, Dakar.

21 Mar 2016

Researchers explore prenatal marijuana use in legalized environment

Researchers at the University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus are studying the detection of prenatal marijuana use in a legalized environment. The study of marijuana use in pregnancy is only possible in a few states.

9 Mar 2016

Air pollution increases risk of preterm birth for asthmatic pregnant women

Pregnant women with asthma may be at greater risk of preterm birth when exposed to high levels of certain traffic-related air pollutants, according to a study by researchers at the National Institutes of Health and other institutions.

2 Mar 2016

Potential link between PLCD and ALL could offer new targets for cancer prevention research

A potential correlation between pre-labor cesarean delivery (PLCD) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) could offer new targets for cancer prevention research, according to new research from the Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota.

27 Feb 2016

Insecticide-treated nets help prevent spread of malaria

Insecticide-treated nets may still help prevent malaria despite mosquitoes developing resistance, according to a new study published in Parasites & Vectors.

27 Feb 2016

Costs of lower cognitive ability linked with not breastfeeding amount to over $300 billion each year

When countries, rich or poor, support breastfeeding through meaningful investments and programs, it has an impact on their bottom line and the health of women and children. The Lancet Breastfeeding Series, released today, finds that globally, the costs of lower cognitive ability associated with not breastfeeding amount to more than $300 billion each year, a figure comparable to the entire global pharmaceutical market.

29 Jan 2016

Vital Strategies launched to improve global health

A new name in global health - Vital Strategies was launched today, with a mission of reducing disease and premature death and helping to deliver a world where every person has the protection of a strong public health system.

27 Jan 2016

Study shows slow global progress on stillbirth prevention leaves over 2.6 million babies at risk each year

More than 2.6 million stillbirths continue to occur globally every year with very slow progress made to tackle this 'silent problem', according to new research published in The Lancet. Despite significant reductions in the number of maternal and child deaths, there has been little change in the number of stillbirths (in the third trimester of pregnancy) even though the majority are preventable.

20 Jan 2016

Racial disparity in 'previable' preterm births linked to infant mortality problem

Black women are nearly four times more likely than white women to have a baby born between 16 and 22 weeks gestation, a time period in which the life of a baby outside the womb is not viable.

13 Jan 2016

New study outlines risk for in-hospital and out-of-hospital births in Oregon

The out-of-hospital birth setting in Oregon was associated with a higher risk of perinatal death, while the in-hospital birth setting was associated with a higher risk for cesarean delivery and other obstetric interventions (e.g., induction or augmentation of labor), according a study published today in the New England Journal of Medicine by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University.

31 Dec 2015

BIDMC, Pan American Health Organization partner to advance eHealth in Latin America, Caribbean

The Division of Clinical Informatics at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) and the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO) / World Health Organization have signed a framework agreement to collaborate in supporting the advancement of eHealth in Latin America and the Caribbean. BIDMC efforts will be led by Director of Global Health Informatics Yuri Quintana, PhD.

26 Dec 2015

Risk of dementia decreasing? An interview with Professor Carol Brayne, University of Cambridge

In this analysis we brought together the few European studies that have looked, within geographical areas, at the prevalence or incidence of dementia in the population aged 65 and over.

7 Dec 2015