Blogs - Page 23 of 136 - This Week In Public Health

Environment

Pesticide Risks: Surprising Challenges for Farmers

Imagine a smallholder farmer named Carlos in Costa Rica, laboring tirelessly under the tropical sun to tend to his crops. Like many farmers in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), Carlos relies heavily on pesticides to protect his livelihood. Yet, he remains unaware of the hidden risks these chemicals pose to his health. The global conversation […]

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Research

Global Trends in Adolescent Self-Harm

Imagine a young public health professional working in a community health center. She regularly encounters adolescents exhibiting signs of emotional distress, often culminating in self-harm. She wonders how widespread this issue is globally and what the underlying factors might be. Self-harm among adolescents, defined by WHO as ages 10 to 19, has emerged as a […]

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News

Telework, COVID’s New Challenge, and Drug Safety: A Public Health Crossroads

This week’s health news spotlights a trio of pressing concerns shaping the landscape of public health and workforce well-being across the country. From the evolving debate over telework accommodations for disabled federal employees to the emergence of a highly mutated but not yet devastating COVID-19 variant to critically important questions about patient safety in drug […]

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Workforce

Boosting Healthcare Safety: High-Reliability Organization Strategies

In a bustling urban hospital, a nurse manager named Sarah navigates a chaotic shift. Her team faces constant challenges: medication errors, staff injuries, and the ever-present pressure of ensuring patient safety. But today, something feels different. They’re part of a High-Reliability Organization (HRO), focused not just on resolving errors, but on preventing them. Addressing Healthcare […]

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Health equity

Online Racism’s Impact on Mental Health

Imagine a 25-year-old Asian American woman sitting at her laptop late into the night, scrolling through social media. She begins to see posts filled with anti-Asian sentiment and racially charged comments. Overwhelmed, she feels isolated in her own community. This scenario highlights a pressing issue at the intersection of technology, mental health, and racism—a recent […]

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Funding

Saving Public Health from Commercial Influence

Imagine a bustling health clinic, overwhelmed with patients streaming in for treatment. A dedicated health worker, exhausted from the endless tide of cases, wonders why so many are falling ill. Is there a bigger force at play here? This scene, reminiscent of a frustrating, relentless cycle, captures the essence of a powerful metaphor in public […]

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Health equity

Assisted Dying: Rethinking Global Policies and Human Rights

Jane, a palliative care nurse, is asked a difficult question by a patient in her care. ‘Why can’t I choose to end my suffering on my own terms?’ This question comes from a man confined to bed by a degenerative disease, with no hope of recovery. Jane knows that legal restrictions prevent her from granting […]

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Climate

Drowning Prevention: A Student-Led Initiative

Swimming Against the Tide: Worcester’s Fight for Water Safety It’s a little early to be thinking about swimming, at least in the Northeast US, but it’s good to be prepped. On a sun-drenched afternoon in Worcester, Massachusetts, a group of adolescents gathered by the poolside at the Central Community Branch YMCA. Among them was 16-year-old […]

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Health equity

Pandemic-Driven Moral Distress: Primary Care Insights

On a brisk morning in Istanbul, Dr. Elif, a family physician, faces a long queue of patients anxiously waiting outside her Family Health Center. Like many primary health workers during the COVID-19 pandemic, her day is filled with back-to-back consultations, a constant battle against time and resources. The emotional toll is immense. Welcome to the […]

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