Health Matters for Women Newsletter

April 2024

Working Together to Reduce Black Maternal Mortality
Black Maternal Health Week is recognized each year from April 11-17 to bring attention and action in improving Black maternal health. Everyone can play a role in working to prevent pregnancy-related deaths and improving maternal health outcomes.

Changes in Partner Seeking and Sexual Behavior Among United States Adults During The First Two Years Of The COVID-19 Pandemic
This study examines cross-sectional survey data collected at the end of the first year and second year of the COVID-19 pandemic by the National Opinion Research Center. Data were analyzed to: 1) quantify behavioral changes across pandemic years, 2) examine changes of in-person dating prevalence during year 2, and 3) assess risk perception for acquiring COVID-19 or HIV/STIs through new sexual partnerships during year 2.

Equity of PrEP Uptake by Race, Ethnicity, Sex and Region in the United States in the First Decade of Prep: A Population-Based Analysis
This study uses commercial pharmacy data to enumerate PrEP users by race and ethnicity, sex, and US Census region from 2012 to 2021. It reports annual race and ethnicity-, sex-, and region-specific rates of PrEP use and PrEP-to-Need Ratio, a metric of PrEP equity, to assess trends.

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Syphilis cases among women have increased in the United States, and the number of babies born with syphilis is also increasing.  To prevent passing syphilis to an unborn baby, pregnant women should be tested ______ during pregnancy.

Correct Answer: At least once

Incorrect Answers:

Three times

Not at all

Source: If you are pregnant and have syphilis, you can give the infection to your unborn baby. Having syphilis can lead to a low-birth-weight-baby. It can make it more likely you will deliver your baby too early or stillborn (a baby born dead). To protect your baby, you should receive syphilis testing at least once during your pregnancy. Receive treatment right away if you test positive. Learn more: STD Facts – Syphilis (cdc.gov)