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Regardless of breast density or HT use, women aged 50 to 74 years can undergo biennial mammography

A study that compared the benefits and harms of the frequency of screening mammography to age, breast density and postmenopausal use of hormone therapy (HT) suggests that woman ages 50 to 74 years who undergo biennial screenings have a similar risk of advanced-stage disease and a lower cumulative risk of false-positive results than those who get mammograms annually, according to a report published Online First by JAMA Internal Medicine, a JAMA Network publication.

19 Mar 2013

IRIN examines maternal mortality in Nepal

IRIN examines maternal mortality in Nepal, writing, "Observed declines [in the maternal mortality ratio (MMR)] since the early 1990s make Nepal, together with Bangladesh, the most recent 'success story,' comparable to countries like Malaysia, Thailand and Cuba that gained ground decades earlier, Julia Hussein, lead author of a 2011 medical appraisal of Nepal's MMR reduction, told IRIN."

19 Mar 2013

N.D. lawmakers pass 'heartbeat' abortion ban

North Dakota lawmakers have passed a bill that would ban abortions there, with few exceptions, after a fetal heartbeat can be detected -- after about six weeks. The ban would one of the most restrictive abortion laws in the nation.

19 Mar 2013

Minnesota House poised to vote on health exchanges

Meanwhile, a New Hampshire survey finds few residents are aware of the health insurance marketplaces starting soon, and a fight is brewing in California over how "enrollers" for the state's exchange will be screened.

19 Mar 2013

Pregnancy-associated plasma protein A predicts cardiovascular events: Study

Higher levels of pregnancy-associated plasma protein A were associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events in people with cardiac chest pain that developed as a result of heart disease/coronary artery disease, according to a study published in CMAJ.

19 Mar 2013

State roundup: Minn. nurses give on staff levels for study

A selection of health policy news from California, Massachusetts, the District of Columbia, Minnesota and Oregon.

19 Mar 2013

Researchers report development of multi-parameter sorting approach to part SSCs from cancerous cells

As success rates in treating childhood cancers have improved, greater emphasis is being placed on quality of life issues following successful treatment.

18 Mar 2013

Cultural factors delay life-saving treatment for women in Saudi Arabia

Women in Saudi Arabia, who suffer heart attacks, are delaying life-saving treatment because they need a man's permission to travel to hospital, new research by the University of Ulster has revealed.

18 Mar 2013

2 in 5 parents believe HPV vaccine is unnecessary

A rising percentage of parents say they won't have their teen daughters vaccinated to protect against the human papilloma virus, even though physicians are increasingly recommending adolescent vaccinations, a study by Mayo Clinic and others shows.

18 Mar 2013

Smoking increases risk of urothelial carcinoma in women

Smoking significantly increases individuals' risk of developing serious forms of urothelial carcinoma and a higher likelihood of dying from the disease, particularly for women. That is the conclusion of a recent study published in BJU International.

17 Mar 2013

European Commission holds high-level nutrition meeting

The European Commission on Thursday began a two-day high-level meeting on nutrition in Brussels, aimed at "ensuring the cause remains atop the development agenda," the Devex "Development Newswire" reports.

16 Mar 2013

Viewpoints: 'Namby-pamby' Democratic budget offer; Murray argues her plan is responsible; Officials can force hospitals to fix pricing for uninsured

In the absence of an emergency, Washington can and should bring its budget into balance, even though that requires doing what politicians despise: for Republicans, raising taxes; for Democrats, curbing the rapid growth in benefit programs such as Medicare and Social Security that already make up three-fifths of federal spending.

16 Mar 2013

Research roundup: Nurse education and post-surgery mortality; The influence of publicly reported quality-of-care measures

Each week, KHN reporter Alvin Tran compiles a selection of recently released health policy studies and briefs.

16 Mar 2013

Study could lead to better treatments for women having unhealthy eating habits

Taking part in unhealthy eating behaviors may cause women who are concerned about their diet and self-image to experience a worsening of their moods, according to Penn State researchers.

16 Mar 2013

ABC News examines how newly selected Pope's stance on contraception might impact Catholic organizations working on HIV/AIDS

ABC News examines how the selection of Cardinal Jorge Bergoglio of Argentina to be Pope might impact Catholic organizations' work in disease prevention, including HIV/AIDS prevention.

16 Mar 2013

Federal judge in Michigan blocks birth control coverage mandate for pizza chain

On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Lawrence Zatkoff granted this preliminary injunction against the enforcement of the health law's contraception coverage requirement.

16 Mar 2013

Deadline pressures could put more health exchanges in the federal government's hands

Reuters reports that if states that are pursuing their own insurance marketplaces can't keep up with the timeline, it could fall to Washington to run. Meanwhile, the Minnesota House approves legislation to set up its health exchange while advocates in Colorado press to make coverage of children's dental care mandatory in plans sold on that state's exchange.

16 Mar 2013

Survey shows active women are more likely to prefer midwifery care and planned home birth

Women who see themselves as active participants in the delivery of their first child, and prefer a collaborative role with their healthcare provider are more likely to prefer planned home birth and the care of a midwife, according to a new survey conducted by Columbia University School of Nursing's Adriana Arcia, PhD, RN, and published in the journal Midwifery.

15 Mar 2013

Cultural preferences for sons dampens contraception usage

While poverty and under-education continue to dampen contraception use in Nepal, exacerbating the country's efforts to reduce maternal and child mortality rates, researchers say another, more surprising factor may be more intractable: Deeply held cultural preferences for sons over daughters.

15 Mar 2013

U.S. must advocate for international agreement to address gender violence

"Having passed the Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) in Congress, despite attempts to block it by extreme conservatives, the United States has demonstrated its commitment to ending gender-based violence at home and can now support the world's efforts to do the same," contributor Chloë Cooney writes in the RH Reality Check blog.

15 Mar 2013