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EVERYTHING
The Real Fertility Crisis? UN Survey Says Financial Security
What: The New York Times breaks down a UN report on fertility, which found declining birthrates are not necessarily due to people wanting fewer kids, but instead is tied to financial insecurity. Surveys across 14 countries highlighted concerns about economic stability impacting family planning decisions, with many ending up with fewer children than desired.
Key Line: "What is also remarkable about the report, experts said, is that it raises questions about whether the way to increase fertility is to target birthrates directly, rather than overall quality of life. And it points to other areas of policymaking that appear less directly related to population size but that could lead to the desired results. The report’s conclusions stem from a survey of about 14,000 people in Brazil, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Italy, South Korea, Mexico, Morocco, Thailand, Nigeria, South Africa, Sweden and the United States — countries that represent more than a third of the global population."
Source: New York Times
Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease Mortality on the Rise
What: A CDC study found a significant increase in alcohol-associated liver disease mortality, particularly among women, younger adults, and Native American populations. The COVID-19 pandemic was a major factor in these trends.
Key Line: "These findings highlight the urgent need for targeted public health interventions and enhanced surveillance, especially given the sustained impact of COVID-19 pandemic–related changes in alcohol consumption patterns."
Source: JAMA Network Open
RFK Jr. Appoints New Members to CDC Vaccine Committee
What: HHS Sec. Kennedy named new members to the federal panel that advises on vaccines, after he surpirse fired the entire board earlier this week. Some members include critics of mRNA coronavirus vaccines.
Key Line: "His picks for the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices include a well-known pediatric infectious-diseases expert and at least three people who have criticized the use of mRNA coronavirus vaccines. Some of the more notable selections include Martin Kulldorff, the co-author of the Great Barrington Declaration, which called for herd immunity through mass covid infection in 2020, and Vicky Pebsworth, who is listed on the board of the nation’s oldest anti-vaccine group."
Source: Washington Post
BIRTH CONTROL
Alex Cooper's Birth Control Side Effects Explained
What: Podcaster Alex Cooper from the show "Call Your Daddy" shared that she experienced intense side effects after stopping birth control, including acne, mood swings, and vertigo. Women's Health examines how common that experience is.
Key Line: "So, it’s not that the pill is causing any problems, but more so that it’s masking—and in many cases—treating them. For example, plenty of women take birth control to treat their hormonal acne, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, or endometriosis. When you stop taking it, any of those symptoms you’d be experiencing without the help of the pill return."
Source: Women's Health
ABORTION ACCESS
New State Laws Aim to Clarify Abortion Bans
What: The 19th explains how lawmakers in Texas, Kentucky, and Tennessee attempted to pass laws that "clarify" abortion bans after the fall of Roe v. Wade. But doctors, attorneys, and policy experts say the updates don't address the risks providers face when providing consistent abortion care.
Key Line: "The end result are clarification laws that remain unclear to physicians and their employing hospitals and health systems, who can still face high penalties for violating an abortion ban. 'When the law isn’t clear, physicians don’t intervene,' Ziegler said. 'You’re not going to be willing to gamble your liberty and your medical license on an uncertain interpretation of the law.'"
Source: The 19th
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