According to a new report covered by multiple news outlets, the National Center for Health Statistics shows alarming data relating to maternal deaths. The report finds that pregnancy-related deaths in 2020 among black women numbered 55 per 100,000 births, which is almost three times as many deaths as among white mothers. Maternal deaths among Hispanic women also increased, from 13 to 18 per 100,000 births in 2019 and 2020, respectively.
On December 7, 2021, Vice President Kamala Harris marked the first Maternal Health Day of Action. The day is a nationwide call to action to improve maternal health in the United States. According to a 2018 investigation by USA Today, more women are dying due to childbirth complications in the U.S. than the rest of the developed world. A CNN article reports that the U.S. continues to have the highest maternal death rate among developed countries.
A holiday caravan paraded through a Chicago suburb in December 2021, bringing holiday cheer to people with disabilities. The 50-year-long tradition was put on by members of the United Cerebral Palsy Seguin of Greater Chicago.
For children with cerebral palsy, it may be difficult to participate in certain sports. The condition may result from an injury to a baby’s brain prior to birth or shortly after delivery, and impacts movement and posture. A new unique sport, however, offers many children with cerebral palsy the freedom to run independently. The sport, called RaceRunning, or Frame Running, uses a wheeled bike frame, much like a tricycle. Athletes support their weight on the handle bars while propelling themselves forward with their feet - much like running.
A research center in Nebraska joins efforts to study physical therapy in infants and toddlers with cerebral palsy. This study will analyze data from two physical therapy approaches to determine which type best promotes a child’s development. Children up to 24 months that have cerebral palsy or are at risk for the condition will participate in the study.
A new study out of the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology suggests that hippotherapy (therapy involving horse riding) is a viable treatment for children with cerebral palsy. Children with this condition often have difficulty with movement and posture. Different types of therapies may help improve movement and balance in individuals with cerebral palsy.
Brachial plexus birth injuries are caused by injury to the nerves that transfer signals to the arm, and may happen when there is difficulty delivering a baby’s shoulder through the maternal pelvis. The condition may lead to permanent damage, such as paralysis. Certain therapies and treatment options may help lessen the severity of symptoms.
If you are a parent or caregiver to a child with disabilities, such as cerebral palsy, you may be wondering how to design his or her Halloween costume around a wheelchair, walker, or other assistive equipment.
The National Institutes of Health (NIH) reported on a new study published in the American Journal of Public Health indicating that racial disparities in maternal mortality may be higher than previously thought. In the study, data from 2016 and 2017 death certificates were reexamined. Researchers calculated the maternal death rate among non-Hispanic black women to be 3.5 times higher than compared to non-Hispanic white women. Previous analyses concluded the death rate among black women to be 2.5 times higher than that of non-Hispanic white women.
