California Has Led The Way On Reducing Maternal Mortality Rates, And Experts Want Other States To Replicate Efforts
“This isn’t some weird California thing that can’t be replicated. This is doable in other states. It’s a matter of having the will and the funding to get it off the ground," said Stephanie Teleki, who leads maternity care initiatives at the California Health Care Foundation.
Stateline:
More U.S. Women Keep Dying From Childbirth. Except In This State
Over the past three decades, the world has seen a steady decline in the number of women dying from childbirth. There’s been a notable outlier: the United States. Here the maternal mortality rate has been climbing, putting the United States in the unenviable company of Afghanistan, Lesotho and Swaziland as countries with rising rates. But that trend has been reversed in dramatic fashion in one state: California. The state Department of Public Health calculates that between 2006 and 2013, California lowered its maternal mortality rate by 55 percent from 16.9 to 7.3 deaths for every 100,000 live births, which translates to saving about one life in every 10,000 live births. (Ollove, 10/23)
In other public health news —
Los Angeles Times:
Can Organic Food Help You Reduce Your Risk Of Cancer? A New Study Suggests The Answer May Be Yes
To reduce your risk of cancer, you know you should quit smoking, exercise regularly, wear sunscreen, and take advantage of screening tests. New research suggests another item might be added to this list: Choose organic foods over conventional ones. A study of nearly 70,000 French adults who were tracked for an average of 4.5 years found that those who ate the most organic foods were less likely to develop certain kinds of cancer than the people who ate the least. (Kaplan, 10/22)
San Francisco Chronicle:
$750K Domestic Violence Grant To Help Asian-Pacific Islanders In SF’s Bayview
A pilot program to curb domestic violence deaths and connect victims with community service organizations in San Francisco’s Bayview neighborhood will receive $750,000 in federal grants over a three-year period as a greater emphasis is placed on helping Asian and Pacific Islander families, officials said Monday. (McBride, 10/22)