Health Care
A campaign aims to bridge the breastfeeding gap for Black mothers in the Gulf South
Despite its well-documented advantages, many regions in the US — especially in the South — continue to grapple with low breastfeeding rates. States like Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana have some of the the lowest rates in the country.
Alabama can enforce ban on puberty blockers and hormones for transgender children, court says
A three-judge panel of the 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals lifted a judge’s temporary injunction against enforcing the law. The judge has scheduled trial for April 2 on whether to permanently block the law.
A medical equipment company is trying to turn the tide on the Gulf South’s ‘diaper divide’
Aeroflow Healthcare has been pushing state lawmakers to end sales tax on necessary items such as diapers, breast pumps and other incontinence products.
7 cases of tuberculosis found in 4 Alabama chicken processing plants
Alabama state health officials are asking workers in the region’s poultry industry and their close contacts to get screened for TB after the outbreak.
Lawsuit challenges Alabama’s ‘de facto ban’ on freestanding birth centers
The lawsuit — filed by the operators of one birth center that closed and two others that paused plans to open — asks a judge to block the Alabama Department of Public Health from requiring the facilities be licensed as hospitals.
As infertility rates rise, data shows much of the US lives in a ‘fertility desert’
Factors like the cost of treatment, the location of clinics and a lack of specialized doctors have contributed to the lack of care across the country.
NIH selects UAB’s Dr. Jeanne Marrazzo to replace Dr. Anthony Fauci
Marrazzo, who has led UAB's Division of Infectious Diseases since 2016, served as a national expert throughout the COVID-19 pandemic.
Those struggling with addiction meet ‘law and order’ treatment in Walker County
Anthony Mitchell allegedly froze to death after spending 14 days in a concrete room at the Walker County Jail according to a federal lawsuit his family filed in February. The case is drawing attention to how law enforcement treats those struggling with addiction.
To meet rising demand, UAB emergency room begins $73 million expansion
After experiencing a 20% increase in patient volume over the past five years, the hospital plans to double treatment capacity in its emergency department.
New CDC report finds ‘significant increase’ in children diagnosed with developmental disorders
While the results showing an increase in rates may seem alarming, researchers say it could be a sign of better access to mental health services.
In rural Mississippi, Baby University is helping parents with ‘more than diapers’
The free program in Clarksdale, Mississippi teaches young parents how to better care for their children while filling in the gaps of the social safety net.
Alabama’s health care system for women ranks near the bottom of this new scorecard
The Commonwealth Fund’s new report includes 12 new measures that evaluate and rank states on reproductive services and women’s health care.
A year after the loss of Roe v. Wade, Gulf South residents reflect on abortion rights
The Gulf States Newsroom asked Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi residents when they realized things had changed after the ruling. Here's what they said.
‘Kids will end their lives’: Anti-trans legislation is impacting mental health in the Gulf South
As book bans and legislation pile up, a Louisiana trans teen describes the mental toll it’s taking on him and highlights the importance of support systems.
Alabama ranked 45th in annual survey of child well-being
While this is one spot higher than the year before, analysts observed Alabama's improvement is largely the result of other states showing poorer outcomes as opposed to Alabama’s child well-being improving.
With pandemic-era boost to SNAP over, a Mississippi diaper bank is receiving more calls for help
With the COVID-19 public health emergency over, Diaper Bank of the Delta is trying to fill in the gap and connect struggling families to more resources.
Tell us your story about reproductive health care in the Gulf South
When it comes to reproductive health care, at what point did you realize things have changed since Roe v. Wade was overturned?
Why do so many Black women die in pregnancy? One reason: Doctors don’t take them seriously
Angelica Lyons knew it was dangerous for Black women to give birth in America. As a public health instructor, she taught college students about racial health disparities. Then, in 2019, it nearly happened to her.
To improve birth outcomes for uninsured moms, Birmingham is training more doulas
The city of Birmingham has teamed up with BirthWell Partners’ community doula project to sponsor 32 trainees to work in underserved communities.
Alabama health officials seek to eliminate cervical cancer by 2033
A new campaign aims to dramatically increase rates of HPV vaccination, cancer screening and follow-up care.
Birmingham officials launch violence intervention program at UAB hospital
The initiative connects gunshot survivors with resources to try to stop the cycle of violence.
At Lovelady Center, women find hope after surviving fentanyl
Four women share stories of using and recovering from the deadly opioid fentanyl.
Families find support during a new wave of the opioid epidemic
The opioid epidemic continues to evolve. There's been a shift in overdose demographics and ways the drug is consumed. But what hasn’t changed is the strain that opioid addiction can have including on families.
Arms are open again for infant cuddling after pandemic pause
Under pandemic restrictions, only staff at St. Vincent's Hospital in Birmingham were allowed in the wards. Volunteers with the infant cuddling program couldn’t re-enter the NICU until the hospital lightened COVID-19 regulations. That was just four months ago.
Why SCOTUS decision on abortion pill ban won’t change much for Gulf South residents
Physicians and Gulf South advocates say much won’t change in their states — which have total abortion bans in place — whether mifepristone is banned or not.
Health advocates hope Narcan’s over-the-counter status will bypass Alabama’s strict laws
Public health officials say the federal rule change should expand access to the overdose-reversing medication, after years of navigating tough state restrictions on who can dispense Narcan.
After botched executions, Alabama will try lethal injection again
Alabama paused executions for three months after the state failed to execute two men and took more than three hours to kill another man. Now, after an internal review and a rule change, prison officials will resume the procedure.
As midwifery evolves, this Mississippi museum is preserving the history of granny midwives
Granny midwives were some of the first to universalize the practice of midwifery in the South. A permanent installation hopes to share their history.
In rural Mississippi, E.R. staff are being trained to care for moms and deliver babies
Across the Gulf South, hospitals are cutting labor and delivery services. A program at UMMC hopes to equip health care professionals to fill in the rising gaps.
These billboards want you to know how to get abortion pills — even if your state banned abortions
The nonprofit Mayday.Health organized the campaign to travel across 14 states with abortion bans.
Alabama advocates urge treatment over punishment for pregnant women jailed for substance use
Alabama’s chemical endangerment laws are strict, especially for pregnant women. One program offers alternatives to jail for treating prenatal substance use.
Alabama health officer reflects on lessons learned from COVID-19
Dr. Scott Harris describes the challenges of navigating three years of the COVID-19 pandemic, marked by political divisions and mistrust.
