Blogs - This Week In Public Health

Commentary

Why “Barriers and Facilitators” Is Not Enough in Public Health

In public health, we love to ask a very, very familiar question: What are the barriers and facilitators? It is a useful question. It helps us listen. It helps us organize what people are experiencing. It gives researchers, evaluators, and program leaders a way to summarize messy real-world conditions. When a new program struggles, we […]

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Epi

SVI vs. ADI: What Public Health Practitioners Need to Know Since the CDC Removed SVI

TLDR; SVI and ADI overlap but measure different concepts: vulnerability vs deprivation Public health professionals often rely on composite indices to identify disadvantaged communities and guide interventions. Two prominent tools in this space are the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) and the Area Deprivation Index (ADI). Both indices measure socioeconomic and demographic disadvantage, but they were […]

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Global

Why Maternal Death Rates Are Increasing in Conflict Zones

The ongoing struggles in public health extend well beyond traditional challenges, into areas deeply intertwined with geopolitical complexities. Recent reports highlight escalating trends in maternal mortality in regions marked by conflict, underscoring an urgent public health crisis. This blog explores why maternal deaths are alarmingly on the rise in conflict zones, their broader implications, and […]

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Global

Cannabinoid Syndrome Hospitalization Trends Surge in Canada

Imagine you’re a healthcare worker in an emergency department in Ontario. It’s a particularly busy night, and as you navigate the demand, a young adult in severe distress presents with nausea and uncontrollable vomiting. After several tests, it becomes evident: you’re seeing yet another case of Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS). Cannabinoid Hyperemesis Syndrome (CHS) is […]

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Funding

Philadelphia’s New Approach: The Philly Joy Bank

In the heart of Philadelphia, public health officials and community leaders face a sobering reality: racial disparities in birth outcomes continue to plague Black communities. Yet, amid these challenges, an innovative program known as the Philly Joy Bank (PJB) is gaining attention, serving as a beacon of hope for improving perinatal equity. The Challenge: Overcoming […]

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Epi

Beyond the Horizon: Public Health’s Bold Leap Toward Equity, Innovation, and Preparedness

This week in public health, the story isn’t just about managing illness but pioneering transformative systems that reshape who has access to care, how care is delivered, and how preparedness is entrenched in our communities. From sweeping federal regulations to innovative payment models and the persistent vigilance against rare yet deadly viruses, a tapestry of […]

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News

Unraveling Misdiagnosis, Miscarriage Leave, and Maternal Health

As the public health landscape continues to evolve, recent reports have highlighted critical issues that demand immediate attention. From genetic predispositions affecting medicine efficacy to the introduction of progressive healthcare policies and the persistent challenges of maternal health, these concerns are at the forefront of global health discussions. Genetic Variations and Medical Treatments Recent research […]

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Wellbeing

Weight-Loss Drugs: A Game Changer in Preventing Heart Attacks?

The health landscape is ever-evolving, with recent developments particularly highlighting the role of pharmaceutical advancements in public health. One such advancement making waves recently is the broader adoption of weight-loss drugs, being offered as a measure to avert heart attacks in those at risk. The introduction of weight-loss injections for cardiovascular health marks a pivotal […]

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News

Is Political Polarization Becoming a Social Determinant of Health?

A new study published in Nature Human Behaviour raises a troubling question for public health: what if political polarization is no longer just shaping what people believe, but also how healthy they are? Researchers Elizabeth Elder and Neil A. O’Brian examined individual-level medical data and death records from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to […]

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Research

Open Science Practices: A New Dawn for Behavioral Addiction Research

Charlotte, an early-career researcher at the University of British Columbia, sits at her desk immersed in her latest project on gambling addiction. Facing her screen, she contemplates the open science practices she just learned about at a recent conference. Like many in her field, Charlotte is part of a growing movement determined to make behavioral […]

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Global

Cultural Insights: Combating Child Sexual Exploitation in SE Asia

In a small village in Indonesia, a young girl hesitates to report a troubling message she received online. She fears the shame it might bring to her family, bound by deep-rooted cultural norms. This story is not isolated; across South-East Asia, child sexual exploitation and abuse (CSEA) are challenges that intersect with culture, technology, and […]

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