ASHLYN KINGSLEY --- Maternal health is the well-being of women during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postnatal period. Despite global progress, 287,000 women worldwide have lost their lives during and after pregnancy in 2020. In 2021, there were 1,205 deaths in the United States, up from 861 in 2020 and 754 in 2019, reflecting a need for urgent reform. Compared to other high-income countries, the maternal mortality rate in the United States is ten times the average of between 2 and 3 deaths per 100,000. Maternal health is a growing concern, especially in the United States where maternal deaths are rising. SARA DRINKARD --- Despite Native American (NA) communities being generally community-oriented and surrounded by support, these communities face disproportionate suicide rates. Since 2015, suicide rates among NAs have increased 20%, despite the only <1% increase in the total US population (Stone, 2022). From 2017-2022, NAs comprised 25% of Montana’s suicide rate, despite only making up 6.5% of the state’s population (One of the highest percentages in the country) (Rosston, 2022). In other minority and ethnic community, rates have also increased, but none to the extent of NA communities, despite decades of research into suicide prevention by the CDC. Why is this? Could this be due to the fact that most suicide prevention efforts lack cultural relevance or sensitivity? Maybe the underfunding and under-resourcing of Indian Health Services, especially in more rural areas. NAs were found to have more adverse upbringings and childhood experiences, which could also contribute to these high rates (Giano et al, 2021). NA’s face some of the worst intergenerational trauma as a result of years of colonization, discrimination, relocation, and overall poor treatment by the US government (Ehlers et al, 2022). ASHNA PATEL --- Cancer diagnoses among the young adult population are increasing worldwide, particularly those under the age of 50. Under the age of 50 includes individuals aged anywhere from 14 to 49 years. According to a study conducted in 204 countries, there was an increase of 79.1% in early-onset cancer diagnoses between the years 1990 and 2019. Breast cancer still remains the most common type of cancer to affect young adults. However, gastrointestinal cancers, which include cancers of the colon and appendix, have shown the highest increase with the rate rising by 15%. A significant concern of the prevalence of cancer among younger people is that they have an increased risk of the cancer metastasizing.
EUNSEO CHO --- Last year on September 27, the Biden-Harris administration announced a plan to increase healthy eating with physical activity while ending hunger in the United States by 2030. To achieve this goal, the administration laid out a total of five pillars, and one of them focused on improving food access and affordability. The administration explained that one way to improve food access and affordability is increasing access to more nutritious school meals. SARA DRINKARD --- According to the EU’s climate change service, Europe is facing one of its warmest winters to date. The average January temperature was reportedly 2.2 degrees Celsius higher than the average from 1990 to 2020. On New Year’s Day, eight countries in the continent had their hottest January day, marking the “most extreme heat wave in European history,” according to climatologist Maximiliano Herrera. |