The opinion piece was written by Sandra C. Quinn, PhD, Professor and Chair, Department of Family Science and published in Maryland Matters on February 12, 2020.

Julia Steinberg, assistant professor of family science at the University of Maryland School of Public Health, published a commentary about a new study examining women’s feelings five years following an abortion in Social Science & Medicine.

The availability of services to help clients achieve pregnancy depends on if the clinic receives funding through Title X, according to a study co-authored by Dr. Marie Thoma, assistant professor of family science at the University of Maryland School of Public Health. 

Zeina Mohamad Alkhalaf didn’t plan to go into public health, at least not at first. She received a degree in communications and public relations and conducted humanitarian work through a non-profit. But at the age of 23, Zeina was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), a hormonal disorder that affects around 200,000 individuals in the US every year and can lead to infertility, diabetes and even cancer.

Policies based on the notion that undergoing an abortion causes or increases women’s risk of attempting suicide are misinformed, according to the results of a 17-year study led by a School of Public Health researcher.

In a year that has seen the largest measles outbreak in the US in more than two decades, the role of social media in giving a platform to unscientific anti-vaccine messages and organizations has become a flashpoint.

 

School of Public Health faculty, staff and students wrote a report analyzing risk factors for infant mortality in Maryland for the Maryland General Assembly, as part of a contract with the Maryland Health Commission.  

Ama Chandra knows firsthand the dangers black women and their babies face during pregnancy and infancy: Six of her eight pregnancies ended in miscarriages, for reasons including preterm labor.

Her two children, Tano and MaeLee, were born at 27 and 24 weeks, respectively, early births that put them at elevated risk of myriad health problems. 

“Our communities deal with a lot of stress and trauma, and there is a huge impact on the body,” said Chandra, a registered nurse and professional singer.  

In a new Journal of Youth and Adolescence article, Family Science Assistant Professor Dr. Jessica Fish explores who engages in and benefits from communal LGBTQ organizations. The paper found young LGBTQ persons who participated in community-based LGBTQ organizations were more likely to have better mental health and less likely to use or abuse substances compared to their peers.