Maternal and Child Health Research
Study examines characteristics of deaths from drug overdose in North Carolina
October 17, 2017 According to study findings by maternal and child health doctoral student Anna Austin, death by drug overdose is an important and continuing public health concern in the U.S. The average self-inflicted drug overdose victim was 50 years old, female and white. In contrast, the average unintentional drug overdose victim was a 43-year-old male. Austin's findings were published Oct. 10 in the journal Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
Online calculator estimates the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health
September 15, 2017 Dr. Alison Stuebe led a group of researchers who developed an online calculator to estimate the impact of changes in breastfeeding rates on population health. The research was published online Sept. 15 in the journal Breastfeeding Medicine.
UNC team awarded $3.25M grant to study role of placenta in children’s later-life health
September 13, 2017 Researchers from the Departments of Epidemiology, Maternal and Child Health, and Biostatistics have been awarded a large grant from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development to investigate the role of the placenta as a driver of children’s later-life health.
Abstinence-only sex education policies ‘scientifically and ethically flawed,’ review finds
September 1, 2017 Policies and programs that promote abstinence as the only option for unmarried adolescents are scientifically and ethically flawed, reports an article co-authored by Dr. Ilene Speizer. The findings were published Aug. 22 in the Journal of Adolescent Health. Photo by Now Idonoa.
Mental well-being essential for health professionals in complex emergency settings
June 28, 2017 A new commentary co-authored by Dr. Dilshad Jaff describes the value of ensuring mental well-being for medical and health providers who work in emergency settings – so as to maintain both their effectiveness and personal resiliency.
Physician researcher calls for end to destructive practice of female genital mutilation
June 9, 2017 A commentary by Dr. Dilshad Jaff calls for an end to the practice of female genital mutilation/cutting in Iraqi Kurdistan. More public health initiatives are needed, he says, to dissuade communities from employing the practice, which has lifelong physical, psychological and public health consequences for girls and women.
Study finds small, mostly-male schools are less likely to have sexual assault policies
April 20, 2017 A new research paper highlights the wide variation in definitions of consent at universities across the United States.
Fourth annual GillingsX talks draw record crowd
March 27, 2017 The fourth annual GillingsX event, hosted by the Student Global Health Committee on March 23, highlighted students' global health research experiences. The format is modeled after the TED talks, which aim to deliver an important idea in a short, interesting presentation.
Hookah smoking seen as emerging public health threat in Kurdish region of Iraq
February 23, 2017 Drs. Dilshad Jaff and Anant Kumar describe hookah smoking in the Kurdish region of Iraq as an emerging public health threat. The ongoing armed conflict, economic distress and easy availability of tobacco contribute to the problem.
Maternity waiting homes bring help to vulnerable women in Malawi
February 16, 2017 Dr. Kavita Singh led a study, published in the International Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology, showing that maternity waiting homes (MWHs) offer a promising strategy to reduce maternal mortality in Malawi and other low-income countries. MWHs allow women who live in rural areas or who have high-risk pregnancies to live closer to a health facility toward the end of their term.
