Infants

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)
blog
Pandemic-Era Parties, China's Global Influence, Reducing Infant Mortality: RAND Weekly Recap
Jul 2, 2021
This weekly recap focuses on assessing the risk of small gatherings during the pandemic, China's ability to exert influence around the world, using big data to reduce infant mortality, and more.
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Health Interventions
essay
Reducing Disparities in Infant Mortality: Using Big Data to Help Babies at Risk
Jul 1, 2021
Black babies in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania—and across America—face much higher mortality rates than white babies. Researchers pulled together thousands of data points on more than 150,000 births to better predict who is at risk and how to help.
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Substance Abuse
commentary
Policies That Punish Pregnant Women for Substance Use Don't Help Mother or Baby
Laura J. Faherty @LauraFahertyMD
Jan 28, 2020
Tennessee Justice Center
About half of all U.S. states now have policies that criminalize substance use during pregnancy, consider it grounds for civil commitment, or consider it child abuse or neglect. But research suggests that punitive policies aren't beneficial for infants or their mothers.
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Afghanistan
blog
AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap
Mar 15, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on the danger of artificial intelligence bias, infants with opioid withdrawal symptoms, peace talks in Afghanistan, and more.
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Opioids
commentary
Opioid-Dependent Newborns in My West Virginia Hometown Point to a Path Out of Drug Crisis
Stephen W. Patrick
Mar 6, 2019
USA Today
In small, rural towns like Bluefield, West Virginia, economies are hurting, the opioid epidemic is growing, and together they are taking a toll on a surprising population: pregnant women and their babies.
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Children and Families Legislation
commentary
Use It or Lose It—Why Taking Parental Leave Is So Important for Fathers
Barbara Janta, Katherine Stewart
Mar 4, 2019
E!Sharp
The active involvement of both a mother and a father in the upbringing of a child has great social and psychological benefits. Yet, despite legal provisions allowing parents to take time off to look after children, such as parental leave, many men are still reluctant to take it.
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Global Security
blog
Taliban, Health Care, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap
Feb 1, 2019
This weekly recap focuses on U.S.-Taliban peace talks, what single-payer health care really means, comparing threats from Russia and China, and more.
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Children and Families Legislation
commentary
Potential Changes to Paternity and Parental Leave in Europe
Barbara Janta
Jun 25, 2018
E!Sharp
Fathers' involvement in child care has considerable benefits for their children, mothers, employers, and themselves. Paternity and parental leave are important, but pay, flexibility, and eligibility remain significant barriers to uptake by fathers across Europe.
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commentary
Parental Leave Would Cause a Boom in Breastfeeding
Kandice A. Kapinos @kandicekapinos, Lori Uscher-Pines
Apr 17, 2017
The Hill
Doctors recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of a baby's life. This provides health benefits to both mother and child and saves health care costs. Paid maternity leave can boost breastfeeding rates, but few U.S. firms offer it.
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Caregivers
commentary
How Can Europe Encourage Fathers to Take Parental Leave?
Janna van Belle
Oct 14, 2016
New Europe
Whether fathers take parental leave depends on economic factors, but flexibility of timing and workplace culture also seem to make a difference. The link between fathers taking parental leave and improvements in child development makes it an important area for European policymakers to consider.
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Public Health
commentary
Know Zika to Fight Zika
Melinda Moore
Feb 12, 2016
U.S. News & World Report
Scientists across universities, governments, and industry are doubling down to gain a better understanding of the Zika virus and develop the diagnostic, preventive, and therapeutic tools needed to combat it. In the meantime, the public must be actively engaged.
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Public Health
commentary
Fighting the Zika Virus: What Public Health Officials Need to Do
Melinda Moore
Jan 28, 2016
Fox News Channel
For now, public health officials and their partners must do all they can to control Zika virus, using the tools at hand. That may include instituting a public health campaign to reduce mosquito-breeding sites and promoting prudent protection against mosquito bites.
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Parenting
commentary
MIECHV Reauthorization: Recommendations from Research
M. Rebecca Kilburn, Grace Evans
Apr 17, 2015
The RAND Blog
Funding for the Maternal, Infant, and Early Childhood Home Visiting program was extended through fiscal year 2017, without policy changes. If Congress decides to make policy changes to MIECHV in the future, research on home visiting programs can inform recommendations.
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Parenting
commentary
Support for Implementing Home Visiting Under the Affordable Care Act
Teryn Mattox, Sarah B. Hunter, M. Rebecca Kilburn
Jan 8, 2014
The RAND Blog
One groundbreaking provision of the Affordable Care Act is its funding for home visiting programs that match the parents of young children with trained specialists who provide information, social support, parental skill instruction, and more.
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Demographics
commentary
Could Britain See a Baby Boom?
Stijn Hoorens @StijnHoorens
Jul 31, 2013
CNN
The royal birth comes at a time when fertility in Britain is increasing after decades of decline. Today, the U.K.'s total fertility rate, a proxy for the average number of children per women in a given year, is the third highest in Europe behind only France and Ireland.
Read More »

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Infants

Pandemic-Era Parties, China's Global Influence, Reducing Infant Mortality: RAND Weekly Recap

Reducing Disparities in Infant Mortality: Using Big Data to Help Babies at Risk

Policies That Punish Pregnant Women for Substance Use Don't Help Mother or Baby

AI Bias, Opioids, Afghanistan: RAND Weekly Recap

Opioid-Dependent Newborns in My West Virginia Hometown Point to a Path Out of Drug Crisis

Use It or Lose It—Why Taking Parental Leave Is So Important for Fathers

Taliban, Health Care, Russia: RAND Weekly Recap

Potential Changes to Paternity and Parental Leave in Europe

Parental Leave Would Cause a Boom in Breastfeeding

How Can Europe Encourage Fathers to Take Parental Leave?

Know Zika to Fight Zika

Fighting the Zika Virus: What Public Health Officials Need to Do

MIECHV Reauthorization: Recommendations from Research

Support for Implementing Home Visiting Under the Affordable Care Act

Could Britain See a Baby Boom?

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