New from CDC Authors
New from CDC’s Office of Women’s Health – Menstrual Health and Hygiene Continuing Education Units
CDC’s Office of Women’s Health presents, Women’s Health Research and Practice Series: Menstrual Health and Hygiene. Beginning and Ending with Dignity. Period. The goal of this educational activity is to identify MHH as a public health concern and to describe various structural and organizational improvements to reduce disparities, stigma, and discrimination faced by menstruators across the life course. A recording of this event and Continuing Education Units are available.
Vital Signs: Maternity Care Experiences — United States, April 2023
Maternal deaths increased in the United States during 2018–2021, with documented racial disparities. Respectful maternity care is a component of quality care that includes preventing harm and mistreatment, engaging in effective communication, and providing care equitably. CDC analyzed data from the PN View Moms survey administered during April 24–30, 2023, to examine components of respectful care.
Breastfeeding Benefits Both Baby and Mom
Breastfeeding has health benefits for both babies and mothers. Breast milk provides a baby with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. Breastfeeding can also help protect baby and mom against certain illnesses and diseases.
Trends in Micronutrient Interventions, Anemia, and Iron Deficiency among Women and Children in Guatemala, 2009–2019
Food fortification and micronutrient supplementation are public health strategies to improve micronutrient status in Guatemala. This study evaluated trends in food fortification, micronutrient supplementation, anemia, and iron deficiency among nonpregnant women aged 15–49 years [women of reproductive age] and children 6–59 aged months [preschool age children].
Pandemic-Related Stressors and Mental Health Among Women with a Live Birth in 2020
The objective of this analysis was to assess the associations between pandemic-related stressors and feeling more anxious/depressed, among women with a live birth.
Variability and Longitudinal Trajectories of Phthalate and Replacement Biomarkers across Pregnancy in the Human Placenta and Phthalates Study
Human exposure to phthalates is widespread, but assessment of variability across pregnancy has been hampered by short half-lives of phthalate biomarkers and a few repeated measures in prior studies. This study aimed to characterize the variability and longitudinal profiles of phthalate and replacement biomarkers across pregnancy.
Influenza-Associated Respiratory Illness Among Five Cohorts of Pregnant Women and Their Young Infants (0–6 months), Bangladesh, 2013–2017
Pregnant women with their infants are considered at higher risk for influenza-associated complications. There are limited data on the influenza burden among pregnant women and their infants (0–6 months), and there are no routine influenza vaccinations in Bangladesh. This study looks at five annual cohorts (2013–2017) of pregnant women to estimated influenza incidence.
Association of Provider Recommendation and Receipt of Influenza Vaccine Among Pregnant Women by Race and Ethnicity
All pregnant women and those who may become pregnant are recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices to receive the flu vaccine to prevent severe illness in the woman and infant. This study sought to describe associations between provider recommendation with flu vaccine uptake by race and ethnicity in Tennessee women with a recent live birth.
Assessing the Utility of Pregnant Women as a Sentinel Surveillance Population for Malaria in Geita, Tanzania, 2019 - 2021
Estimates of malaria burden and intervention uptake in Africa are primarily based on household surveys. However, their expense and infrequency limit their utility. This study investigated whether data collected during antenatal care can provide relevant information for decision-makers.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Lipid Trajectories in Women 45–56 Years of Age: The Study of Women’s Health Across the Nation
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are associated with less favorable blood lipid profiles in epidemiological studies. The objective of this study is to examine associations of serum PFAS concentrations with longitudinal trajectories of blood total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides in midlife women undergoing menopausal transition.
Postpartum Contraceptive Use, Pregnancy Intentions in Women with and Without a Delivery of a NAS-Affected Infant in Delaware, 2012-2018
This study assesses differences in postpartum contraceptive use and pregnancy intentions in women with a recent live birth who delivered a neonatal abstinence syndrome affected infant.
Public Belief in the Maternal Health Benefits of Breastfeeding — United States, 2018 and 2021
The objective of this study was to better understand US public awareness of maternal health benefits of breastfeeding. Data from the 2018 and 2021 SummerStyles surveys were analyzed to explore public belief in select maternal benefits of breastfeeding.
