Promote Healthy People, Healthy Planet and Improve Care for All
Nearly 10% of rural counties in the South are losing hospitals
July 18, 2023 A new study led by Dr. Arrianna Planey found that approximately 10% of rural counties in the U.S. South lost one or more hospitals to a closure between 2007 and 2018. Rural areas with a higher proportion of Black and Latinx residents had longer travel times to access the second nearest acute care hospital.
Pandemic policy changes may have helped sustain access to treatment for opioid use disorder
June 16, 2023 A new study led by Dr. Anna Austin shows that overall receipt of medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) remained relatively stable early in the pandemic among Medicaid patients, possibly due to changes in policy restrictions. However, there was a decrease in the number of people newly beginning MOUD treatment through in person visits that was only partially offset by telehealth.
Marketing ban tackles TV ads for unhealthy foods in Chile
June 1, 2023 A new study finds that children in Chile saw 73% fewer television ads for unhealthy foods and drinks following trailblazing marketing restrictions.
New UNC study quantifies disparity among marginalized communities exposed to traffic-related air pollution across the US
June 1, 2023 A new study from UNC environmental sciences researchers estimates that marginalized communities within 100 meters of a major roadway are more likely to be exposed to traffic-related air pollution.
Have you heard of toddler milk? The way it’s marketed may mislead parents
May 22, 2023 Toddler milk is an ultra-processed beverage that the American Academy of Pediatrics calls “potentially harmful” for children — but sales increased 220% from 2005 to 2019. Researchers from UNC are the first to synthesize existing scientific literature around the prevalence of toddler milk use, reasons for use and how marketing trends impact consumer beliefs.
Gillings on the Ground brings collaborative lens to disaster preparedness, response
April 28, 2023 Now in its third year, Gillings on the Ground gives anyone interested in learning more about disaster response the foundational tools and knowledge to get involved in emergency management.
Bivalent COVID-19 boosters effectively protect against new omicron subvariants
April 12, 2023 New research led by the Gillings School shows that bivalent COVID-19 boosters are still providing effective protection from hospitalization and death, even against the most recent omicron subvariants.
Strong adolescent-parent relationships linked to improved health in young adults
April 3, 2023 New research in JAMA Network Open has found that investments in improving parent–adolescent relationships could help improve general health, mental health and sexual health, while also reducing substance use in young adulthood.
‘Every little bit helps’: The broad benefits of getting active
March 22, 2023 While it might be hard to make time for exercise, incorporating physical activity can start with small tweaks in daily routines, according to Gillings School researchers, and those changes can lead to longer, healthier lives.
Why don’t high-income countries provide clean water and sanitation for all?
March 21, 2023 An article published online March 14 by The Lancet Global Health explores what one researcher calls “the unfinished business of water and sanitation in rich countries.”
