Black pregnant patients face more drug tests—regardless of their history

Black pregnant patients were more likely to receive a urine toxicology test during labor and delivery than white patients—regardless of their history of substance use—according to a new research letter published in JAMA Health Forum. 

Inequitable telehealth contraceptive care during the COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic dramatically impacted access to reproductive health care, changing how care is delivered and making structural inequities worse. Telehealth use drastically increased. While telehealth offers convenience for patients and providers, there are also concerns that it may lead to...

Misoprostol-only medication abortion: A sample protocol

Mifepristone for medication abortion is widely used in the United States. It can be provided entirely remotely by telemedicine and mail, which is critical for people who face barriers to in-person care. However, in the aftermath of the Supreme Court decision ending the constitutional right to...

Young people don’t know about their emergency contraception options, but that can change

As a “last chance” method, emergency contraception (EC) has taken on greater urgency since the Supreme Court ended the constitutional right to abortion care. Young people who don’t want to be pregnant need accurate information about their options, but awareness and availability have lagged around...

How women felt about telehealth pregnancy care during the COVID pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic drastically affected how people got pregnancy-related care in the United States. Before COVID, telehealth visits by phone or video were not typically used for prenatal or postpartum care. Once the pandemic started, pregnancy care providers rapidly implemented telehealth...

Understanding Black women’s pregnancy discrimination experiences

US law prevents discriminating against pregnant people in hiring or job conditions and benefits. However, pregnancy discrimination is common, and complaints have increased—particularly among Black women and women of color.

Nairobi meeting launches action plan for equitable global health partnerships

For far too long, resources and power in global health research have flowed to institutions in the Global North. While this research has led to important advancements, the work has often been extractive, without meaningful inclusion of partners in the countries where research takes place.

Shamba Maisha farming program improved food security and mental health for people living with HIV 

Food insecurity is rampant in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2020, more than 65% of people experienced moderate to severe food insecurity. Rates were even higher among people living with HIV. Despite progress in reducing world hunger, the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened food insecurity. It’s expected to...

Meet Alison Comfort, researcher exploring the stories behind the data

The numbers in a research study offer a glimpse into people’s lives, but there are always deeper stories behind the figures. Health economist Alison Comfort, PhD, has been drawn to math and economics her whole life. The unique power of her work comes in recognizing the real-life experiences behind...

IGHS and Bixby Center researchers head to Kenya to develop more equitable global partnerships

This piece was originally published at the Institute for Global Health Sciences by Cameron Scott.