American Journal of Public Health

The First 1,000 Days: A Window of Opportunity for a Brighter Future for Children

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 23, 2022

WASHINGTON, Sept. 23, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- The infant and maternal mortality rates in the US are among the highest of any wealthy country, with glaring racial and ethnic disparities. There is significant room to develop a unifying plan for the right policies and systems to improve nutritional security and well-being for vulnerable families. As part of a special series, sponsored by 1,000 Days of FHI Solutions, that will appear in American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) on October 26, 2022. The full series will present the state of science, research needs, and a policy agenda for optimal maternal and child nutrition in the US.

Key Points: 
  • There is significant room to develop a unifying plan for the right policies and systems to improve nutritional security and well-being for vulnerable families.
  • As part of a special series, sponsored by 1,000 Days of FHI Solutions, that will appear in American Journal of Public Health (AJPH) on October 26, 2022.
  • The full series will present the state of science, research needs, and a policy agenda for optimal maternal and child nutrition in the US.
  • Thus, this journal series brings together papers on these topics during pregnancy, birth, the postpartum period, and early childhood for the US population.

KindHealth Insurance Discovery Platform Helps Consumers Find Insurance That Provides Care and Financial Security

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 28, 2022

But Andrew Tomasik, co-founder and chief operating officer of insurance discovery platform KindHealth , says it is vital for people to start seeing them as completely separate.

Key Points: 
  • But Andrew Tomasik, co-founder and chief operating officer of insurance discovery platform KindHealth , says it is vital for people to start seeing them as completely separate.
  • It needs to be seen from the financial perspective because health insurance is really a financial safety net."
  • Together, those studies indicate that the monetary aspects of health insurance are complicated but vital to both personal health and financial security.
  • KindHealth's platform is powered by cutting-edge AI technology that recommends the best insurance strategy to protect consumers' financial risk and provide the best coverage for their needs.

Study reveals reluctance among New York City parents to vaccinate young children for COVID-19

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 19, 2022

NEW YORK, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost 40 percent of New York City parents are hesitant to vaccinate their young children for COVID-19, according to a new study by researchers at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH).

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, April 19, 2022 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost 40 percent of New York City parents are hesitant to vaccinate their young children for COVID-19, according to a new study by researchers at the CUNY Graduate School of Public Health and Health Policy (CUNY SPH).
  • The survey also showed that eight percent of parents were not sure and 29 percent of parents reported they were not very likely or not at all likely to vaccinate their child.
  • The findings are consistent with a March 2021 survey , also conducted by CUNY SPH researchers, and suggest that many New York City parents may not vaccinate their children for COVID-19.
  • These findings suggest that mandates may be key for increasing COVID-19 vaccine coverage in children.

New Study Finds Conversion Therapy, and its Associated Harms, Cost the U.S. an Estimated $9.23 Billion Annually

Retrieved on: 
Monday, March 7, 2022

Conversion therapy refers to a range of dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing one's sexual orientation or gender identity.

Key Points: 
  • Conversion therapy refers to a range of dangerous and discredited practices aimed at changing one's sexual orientation or gender identity.
  • The study estimates that 508,892 LGBTQ youth in the U.S. were at risk of being subjected to conversion therapy last year, and that the direct cost of conversion therapy annually is an estimated $650 million.
  • However, the study finds that the harms associated with the practice, such as substance abuse and negative mental health outcomes, including depression, anxiety, and suicide attempts, are significantly higher an estimated $8.58 billion annually; bringing the total estimated cost of conversion therapy to $9.23 billion annually.
  • "Our study uses the most advanced economic techniques and analysis to comprehensively review the data, and to systematically uncover the significant harms of conversion therapy.

Fenway Health Research Shows that Health Care Centers in Cities that Enforce LGBTQIA+ Non-discrimination Collect More Complete Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 10, 2021

"We have known for some time that collection of patient SOGI data is essential for improving health care access and quality for LGBTQIA+ people.

Key Points: 
  • "We have known for some time that collection of patient SOGI data is essential for improving health care access and quality for LGBTQIA+ people.
  • "This study finds that structural anti-LGBTQIA+ stigma is clearly associated with incomplete and inconsistent patient SOGI data collection in federally qualified health centers.
  • An examination of first-year SOGI data reporting by federally qualified health centers found that sexual orientation data were missing from 77 percent of patients; gender identity data were missing from 62 percent.
  • "City-level Structural Stigma and Patient Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Data Collection at U.S. Health Centers, 2018" is available online ( https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/10.2105/AJPH.2021.306414 ).

"Work Design for Health" framework and toolkit developed by researchers at Harvard Chan School and MIT Sloan School of Management offers employers effective alternative to employee wellness programs

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 10, 2021

Chan School of Public Health and MIT Sloan School of Management researchersmaps how to create work environments that foster worker health and well-being.

Key Points: 
  • Chan School of Public Health and MIT Sloan School of Management researchersmaps how to create work environments that foster worker health and well-being.
  • The framework offers new and viable directions for improving worker health and well-being while maintaining or enhancing employee engagement and productivity, according to the researchers.
  • The Work Design for Health framework is outlined in a newly published online article in the American Journal of Public Health.
  • The MIT Sloan School of Management is where smart, independent leaders come together to solve problems, create new organizations, and improve the world.

In AJPH editorial, Fenway Health argues there is an urgent need to collect COVID-19-related sexual orientation/gender identity data

Retrieved on: 
Friday, August 20, 2021

"But without that information, we can't design effective outreach strategies around vaccines and COVID-19 testing."

Key Points: 
  • "But without that information, we can't design effective outreach strategies around vaccines and COVID-19 testing."
  • Only California, Nevada, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, and the District of Columbia collect COVID-19 testing data.
  • From the beginning of the pandemic, health advocates and LGBTQIA+ community advocates have been urging federal officials to require the collection of SOGI data.
  • And they have asked the National COVID Cohort Collaborative to include SOGI data in its clinical data dictionary.