first opinion
How to make raw milk safe
PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images
Scientists have always cautioned against drinking raw milk. But as bird flu began circulating in dairy cows across the country last spring, the warnings became more vehement. By the fall, the virus was found in commercially available raw milk. The exact health risks of drinking this milk are unknown, but recent research supports the fear that it may be dangerous.
I was surprised, then, to read a First Opinion essay published today by audio documentarian Bianca Garcia, who argues that raw milk as a product isn't inherently dangerous with the appropriate management. Garcia has been reporting on raw milk for months, and points to South Carolina as an example of a state with vigorous regulations around testing and sanitation for the raw milk market.
It's a provocative idea, but Garcia comes with evidence for a sort of harm reduction approach. Read more.
reproductive health
Study shows a shift to 'natural' birth control or none at all
People in the U.K. are using effective hormonal birth control methods less than they were five years ago, according to a study published yesterday in BMJ Sexual and Reproductive Health. At the same time, more people are using "natural" methods like tracking one's period and body temperature to make fertility predictions. There's also been a significant increase in the number of people not using any birth control at all, per the study.
To assess recent trends, researchers compared the self-reported birth control practices of around 33,400 people who sought an abortion in early 2018 with 55,000 people who did in early 2023. Just 0.4% people in 2018 used "natural" birth control, while 2.5% did in 2023. Hormonal methods decreased from 18.8% to 11.3%, while those using no birth control increased from 55.8% to almost 70%.
The changes are part of a larger trend of apparent hesitancy to take the pill. About half of reproductive-age females in the U.K. took the pill in 2010, but by 2018 it was down to 14%. The study authors point to both personal preference and a lack of access as potential motivators, but say more research is needed.
health tech
The rush to ensure clinical algorithms don't discriminate
Over the last four years, health systems across the country have stopped using several clinical tools that use race to predict patient outcomes, replacing them with race-free versions that carry less risk of perpetuating inequitable care.
But there are plenty — like, hundreds or thousands — of other calculators and algorithms used every day to make decisions about patients, many of which use race, sex, and other federally-protected traits. As a deadline for federally funded health systems to vet those tools for discrimination approaches in May, it's still unclear how they'll tackle the challenge. STAT's Katie Palmer talked to experts about potential next steps. Read more.
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