Public Health | Penn Today

Mary Andrews as a baby on her aunt’s lap.

Exploring inequalities in health through cognitive science and family conversation

Doctoral candidate Mary E. Andrews believes that personal stories can help people live healthier lives.

Al Día

Study points to concern in the community of caregivers about the aging of the Hispanic population

Adriana Pérez of the School of Nursing says that one of the main challenges for Latino caregivers is the lack of outreach.

HealthDay

Avoid opioids for short-term dental pain in kids, new guidelines say

The Center for Integrative Global Health at the School of Dental Medicine has endorsed guidelines discouraging opioid prescriptions for children with short-term dental pain.

A busy street in Taipei, Taiwan, with people driving, biking, and walking

Health capabilities, explained

Jennifer J. Prah of the School of Social Policy & Practice has developed a method for assessing the individual and collective ability to be healthy.

Person checking their receipt at a grocery store with a cart full of groceries.

More than 2 million additional Americans faced food insufficiency following SNAP benefits drawdown

A study from Penn Medicine finds that after discontinuing pandemic-related food assistance benefits, Americans faced a substantial increase in food insufficiency, which can contribute to chronic diseases like high blood pressure, heart disease, and diabetes.

Forbes

NIH awards $24 million to create 10 maternal health research centers

Penn will serve as the implementation science hub for a new series of NIH-funded maternal health research centers, promoting the integration of research findings and evidence into public health, clinical practice, and community settings.

Associated Press

Mishmash of how U.S. heat deaths are counted complicates efforts to keep people safe as Earth warms

Sameed Khatana of the Perelman School of Medicine says that fatalities in which heat contributed significantly to causes like heart failure should also be considered as heat-related deaths.

A doctor prepping a vaccine for a pregnant person.

To increase acceptance of an RSV vaccine, explain the FDA’s vaccine approval process

A new report by Penn’s Annenberg Public Policy Center shows a need for more public visibility of the FDA’s rigorous review process to sway public opinion about the safety of vaccines and maternal health during pregnancy.

NPR

How heat makes health inequity worse, hitting people with risks like diabetes harder

Sameed Khatana of the Perelman School of Medicine says that extreme heat, like most public health issues in the U.S., is a health equity issue.

Pregnant person holding their belly in a doctor’s office.

Survey finds gaps in knowledge about maternal health

New survey data from the Annenberg Public Policy Center analyzes public knowledge of maternal health risks, vaccine safety, and mental health outreach options.

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