“This should be a wake-up call for the international community. It’s the worst Ebola epidemic we’ve seen in history.”
US Appeals Court Blocks Attempt to Defund Obamacare
The United States Court of Appeals for the DC Circuit has agreed to rehear a case that could protect much-needed subsidies for up to 5 million consumers under the Affordable Care Act.
Indiana Woman Charged With Feticide For Premature Delivery
Purvi Patel sought help at an emergency room. After investigation, police charged Patel with feticide, punishable with up to 20 years in prison, as well as neglect of a dependent.
More Investment in Women’s Health Needed as Africa’s Population Rises
Africa’s population could reach four billion by 2100. As the population grows, more investment in maternal health and family planning resources will be needed to ensure women’s health.
Reproductive Justice Activists Testify Before UN About Health Care Discrimination
A joint study by three major women’s health advocacy groups calls attention to the overwhelming disparity in health outcomes for women of color in the United States. The results of the study are now under the consideration of the United Nations.
Ugandan President Signs Law Making HIV Transmission Illegal
Provisions of the law include possible imprisonment of HIV-positive individuals, a ten-year prison sentence and fine for the “intentional transmission of HIV,” a five-year prison sentence for “attempted transmission of HIV,” and compulsory testing in some situations.
In Liberia, The Ebola Outbreak is Also a Maternal Health Issue
Although the death toll from the virus itself is astounding, many people – including pregnant mothers – are also dying as hospitals and clinics shut their doors.
Low-Income Transgender Residents in Oregon to Gain Access to Government-Funded Care
As of 2015, low-income transgender residents of Oregon will have access to gender reassignment surgery and hormone therapy if they want it.
Affordable Contraception Program in Colorado’s Impact is Overwhelmingly Positive
When Colorado made IUDs and contraceptive implants more affordable, teen pregnancy, abortion, and public health costs all decreased.
Close to Two-Thirds of Cameroonian Women Have Unmet Need for Contraception
Around 6,000 Cameroonian women die each year from complications of pregnancy and childbirth, and 30 percent of those women did not want to become pregnant in the first place.
Study Finds Sexual Health Education Should Begin As Early As Age 10
Children should begin receiving formal education about sexual health as early as age 10, according to a new study published in the journal Global Public Health. The study’s researchers note that although sexual health programs typically focus on older adolescents, sexuality and gender identity begin emerging between the ages of 10 and 14. Programs should therefore be refocused […]
New Bills Would Advance Reproductive Healthcare Gains of Affordable Care Act
Two new bills introduced in Congress could help improve health outcomes for people of color, low income communities, and female members of the U.S. Armed Forces.
North Carolina Mayor Journeys 273 Miles for Medicaid Expansion
O’Neal hiked to Washington, DC to protest the closing of Vidant Pungo Hospital in rural Beaufort County, NC, and to call attention to the impact of his state’s failure to expand Medicaid through the Affordable Care Act.
Extensive Female Genital Mutilation Study To Be Conducted in the US
The Obama administration plans to conduct a large study on female genital mutilation to try to assess how many girls and women in the US are at risk or have experienced the practice.
Senate Foreign Relations Committee Passes Disabilities Treaty
The treaty, among other things, reaffirms the need for fundamental human rights for all people with disabilities, and highlights the need to recognize and respond to discrimination against those with disabilities.
Detroit Maternal Death Rate Is Triple the US Average
Women in Detroit are dying from pregnancy-related complications at about three times the US average, according to the Michigan Department of Community Health. Twenty-six women died in Detroit over the period 2008-2011 as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, and Detroit has the highest rate of infant mortality among major US cities, with 13.5 infant deaths for every […]
New Clarification Requires Corporations Refusing Contraceptive Coverage To Inform Their Employees
The White House clarified on Thursday that closely held for-profit corporations refusing to provide contraceptive coverage will be required to inform their employees.
Law Limiting Abortion Access Under Medicaid in Alaska Temporarily Blocked
An Alaska state court judge this week temporarily blocked a law that created a narrow definition for when abortions were “medically necessary” and therefore covered under Alaska Medicaid.
Nigeria Secures $15 Million Grant from Norway to Reduce Maternal Mortality
Norway has provided a $15 million grant to the Nigerian government to help the country reduce maternal and child mortality.
New Federal Guidelines Align with Pregnancy Discrimination Act
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its pregnancy discrimination guidelines this week for the first time in over 30 years.
