Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Communication

Beyond “Trust the Science”: How Public Health Must Relearn How to Engage Communities

Public health is facing a paradox. On the one hand, never before has scientific evidence played such a visible role in public life. During COVID-19, epidemiological models shaped national policy. Scientists became household names. Research moved at historic speed. On the other hand, trust fractured. Scientists were harassed. Communities disengaged. Evidence was reframed as ideology. […]

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Global

Why Global Warming Can Bring More Heat And More Cold: Explaining Climate Extremes

When most people hear the term “global warming,” they naturally imagine a world that is becoming hotter every year. While rising temperatures are a major concern, the reality is more complex. Understanding why global warming can bring more heat and more cold helps explain the growing number of extreme weather events experienced across the globe. […]

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Communication

Human Trafficking in the United States 2026: Challenges, Trends, and Public Health Solutions

Human trafficking in the United States 2026 continues to be one of the most pressing and complex public health and human rights challenges facing the nation today. Despite growing awareness, millions of individuals remain vulnerable to exploitation through forced labor, sex trafficking, and coercive practices. As technology advances and criminal networks become more sophisticated, trafficking […]

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Technology

New Study Shows Impact of Technology on Relationships in the Digital Age

In today’s connected world, smartphones, social media platforms, and instant messaging apps have become essential parts of daily life. While these tools make communication faster and more convenient, questions remain about their long-term effects on emotional bonds. Recently, a new study has shown the impact of technology on relationships, revealing both positive and negative patterns […]

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Health equity

How Obesity Causes Heart Disease: Understanding the Link and Protecting Your Heart

Obesity has become one of the most pressing public health challenges worldwide. As more people struggle with excess weight, health experts continue to emphasize the serious risks associated with this condition. One of the most concerning consequences is how obesity causes heart disease and increases the likelihood of life-threatening cardiovascular problems. While many people associate […]

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Epi

ICD-10 and Genetic Conditions Are on Pause

What’s Changing, Why It Matters, and What Public Health Should Do Next The way the U.S. classifies diseases is quietly undergoing a rethink — and if you work in public health, health policy, rare disease research, or health equity, this matters more than you might realize. In late 2025, the CDC’s National Center for Health […]

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Global

What Drives Racial Inequity in Brazil’s Care?

On a humid afternoon in São Paulo, a woman waits outside a local clinic with her son. She arrived early, hoping to be seen before the day’s appointments fill. But when the system goes down—again—she is turned away. She has no private insurance, and the nearest alternative facility is several bus rides away. She weighs […]

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Society

Unseen Ripples: Police Violence’s Far-reaching Effects

Late one October evening in Baton Rouge, a high-speed crash rattled a sleeping neighborhood. An off-duty officer, speeding through the quiet streets, collided with a family car, sending it into a deadly spin. Inside the vehicle was Seyaira, a one-year-old who never regained consciousness. This tragic scene is a startling reminder of the unseen ripples […]

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Global

What Drives Teen Sexual Risk in Conservative Societies?

Late one evening in a crowded Jakarta neighborhood, a 16-year-old scrolls through her phone long after her parents think she is asleep. The lights are off, the house quiet. Between homework videos and harmless memes, a link appears—shared by a classmate—pulling her into content she has never seen before, not in school, not at home, […]

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Health equity

How High Salt Intake Shapes Obesity and Heart Risk After 50

Picture a 62-year-old patient in a primary care clinic. Her blood pressure is under control. Her BMI puts her in the “obese” category, but she’s active, social, and managing her diabetes well. Toward the end of the visit, her clinician gently reminds her to “cut back on salt”—a familiar refrain in public health messaging for […]

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