National Women's Studies Association’s Post

For me, healthcare inequity has always been deeply personal, and a challenge I've been determined to overcome. I lost both of my parents from chronic illnesses before I entered kindergarten; they were both 30 years old. Two young Black people left this planet, and no cities were burnt down in their names. And while I have deep grief, I also experience deep rage at a healthcare system that continues to fail Black people, especially Black women. I’ve dedicated my life to shifting this reality and building beautiful, healthy, joyous Black futures. Beginning in 2017, Kimberly Huggins LCSW, MPH, MEd, and I birthed KIMBRITIVE, which began as a dream to revolutionize sex education for Black women and girls, and wow, has that dream evolved? What started as culturally responsive sex education transformed into a groundbreaking digital health platform, and now? We're taking an extraordinary leap forward! I'm beyond thrilled to introduce Kyndred - launching in 2025 as the first-ever virtual comprehensive sexual and reproductive health clinic explicitly created for Black women! Your incredible support through our crowdfunding campaign wasn't just about raising funds - it was a powerful declaration that Black women's health matters, and the time for transformation is NOW. Picture this: a revolutionary healthcare home where Black women are truly seen, heard, and celebrated. We're talking comprehensive services, including sexual wellness education, mental health support, reproductive healthcare, and early telemedicine abortion care - all designed with Black women at the heart of every decision. And here's the most exciting news - we're welcoming the phenomenal Tesiah Coleman, MSN, AGPCNP-BC, WHNP-BC, CLC, as our new co-founder and Chief Clinical Officer! With her decade of trailblazing work in equity-focused healthcare, Tesiah is the visionary leader we need to bring this dream to life. Her arrival couldn't have been more timely as we tackle the critical challenges facing Black women's health today, and we are so grateful. Get ready for healthcare that finally puts Black women first: ✨Care that's truly patient-led, embracing your unique needs and aspirations ✨Innovative whole-body wellness that unites physical, mental, and spiritual health ✨Revolutionary sexual and reproductive care that celebrates pleasure, and autonomy ✨Groundbreaking root-cause care that confronts systemic issues with an anti-racist, integrative approach So, do you want to join me on this healthcare revolution? Here’s how you can help: 1. Share Kyndred with all the Black folks you know to get on our list: https://lnkd.in/gEPPSbnt 2. Make a tax-deductible donation to help us grow, grow, grow: https://lnkd.in/g4n23nVS 3. Share this post with all your networks because we need you. The future of Black women's health starts here. Let's make history together! 🚀

Each year, National Public Health Week, held on the first week of April, celebrates the vital contributions of public health and addresses critical issues essential for enhancing the well-being of our nation. It underscores the fact that public health extends far beyond healthcare. Today's theme emphasizes the importance of Reproductive and Sexual Health. In 2024, raising awareness of reproductive and sexual health is paramount as these topics increasingly become politicized battlegrounds where public health is losing ground. The aftermath of the overturning of Roe v. Wade has triggered a cascade of restrictions, encroaching not only on women's bodily autonomy but also on essential medications vital for women's health on multiple levels. Reproductive health encompasses ensuring a healthy and safe sexual lifestyle. Despite the availability of STI tests and prophylactics, STI rates have surged alarmingly in the US. Since 2000, syphilis cases have skyrocketed, with an 80% increase from 2018 to 2022. In 2022, cases of congenital syphilis among newborns were ten times higher than in 2012. It's imperative to acknowledge that these issues disproportionately affect indigenous populations and communities of color. Sexual health encompasses the holistic well-being of one's sexuality. While significant progress has been made in sexual health awareness, recent legislative trends risk eroding these gains. Numerous bills introduced in state governments across the US almost criminalize individual identities, fostering an environment conducive to potential violence. Now more than ever, encouraging regular STI testing and promoting safe intercourse practices is crucial. Comprehensive sex education plays a pivotal role in empowering individuals to make informed decisions and reducing STI rates and sexual violence over the long term. Age-appropriate, comprehensive sex education in schools has been shown to have significant positive impacts. Access to reproductive health services must be expanded, not restricted. All levels of government should advocate for and fund clinics offering comprehensive reproductive and sexual health care, including family planning services, STI testing and counseling, and safe, legal abortion services. These services must be accessible and affordable. #NPHW #NationalPublicHealthWeek #ReproductiveHealth #SexualHealth #PublicHealth

This article reminds us just how critical comprehensive sexuality education is for young people. That is why at #FPA young people are one of our priority populations.

World Contraceptive Day is observed every year on September 26th to raise awareness about contraceptive options and promote informed decision-making regarding sexual and reproductive health. Here are some key points to consider in a World Contraceptive Day message: 1. The Importance of Contraceptive Education Contraceptive education is vital to reducing unintended pregnancies and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Lack of access to this knowledge can lead to unplanned pregnancies, unsafe abortions, and reproductive health challenges. It is crucial to educate young people and adults alike about the wide range of contraceptive options available, from birth control pills to long-acting methods like intrauterine devices (IUDs) and implants, as well as barrier methods like condoms. 2. Promoting Gender Equality Contraceptive access empowers individuals—especially women—to take control of their reproductive lives, thus promoting gender equality. When women can choose when and if to have children, it opens up greater opportunities for education, employment, and financial independence, contributing to societal development and gender parity. 3. Reducing Maternal and Child Mortality Access to contraception is a critical strategy for improving maternal and child health. Proper birth spacing and planned pregnancies lower the risk of complications during childbirth and reduce the likelihood of infant and maternal mortality. This contributes to healthier families and communities. 4. Contraception as a Human Right Access to contraceptives is not just a health issue—it’s a fundamental human right. Everyone should have the ability to access the family planning methods they need, without barriers such as stigma, cost, or discrimination. Governments and health systems must prioritize ensuring that contraceptive options are available, affordable, and accessible to all individuals. 5. Challenges in Access Despite progress, many still face barriers to contraception, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These include cultural taboos, misinformation, financial constraints, and inadequate healthcare systems. Addressing these barriers through policy, advocacy, and education is critical to achieving universal contraceptive access. 6. Engaging Men in the Conversation Men play a crucial role in family planning. By educating and involving men in conversations about contraception, we can foster shared responsibility in sexual health and family planning decisions. This inclusive approach helps build healthier relationships and communities. 7. Call to Action On this World Contraceptive Day, we call on governments, health organizations, and communities to: - Ensure access to affordable, quality contraception for all. - Promote comprehensive sex education in schools and communities. - Break the stigma surrounding the use of contraception. - Advocate for policies that support reproductive health rights.

Exploring the Importance of Comprehensive Sexuality Education for Teenagers: Breaking the Taboos and Misinformation in Nigeria According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), comprehensive sexuality education, “gives young people accurate, age-appropriate information about sexuality and their sexual and reproductive health, which is critical for their health and survival.” The global health authority included a range of topics such as respect, consent and bodily autonomy; anatomy, puberty and menstruation; contraception and pregnancy; and STIs. Indeed, access to comprehensive sex education for teenagers cannot be over-emphasized if Nigeria will unlock a critical mass of healthy, talented, and productive workforce for global competitiveness. Moreover, teenagers in Nigeria are never a homogenous group. Some are experiencing a rural-urban divide in terms of access to sexual care services. Some are from dysfunctional homes which makes them susceptive to neglect or abuse. There are also gender issues burdened by bias and stereotypes. Children (>18 years) who are out of school are sometimes left to themselves without social protection or access to comprehensive healthcare services. The internally displaced young persons are further excluded from the care and support they need to thrive as healthy and sexually responsible adults. Nevertheless, we can raise a generation of well-informed young persons with strong agency to access comprehensive sexuality education needed to become fully functional persons well into their adulthood and old age. Young people may experiment with sex due to influence from peers, easy access to illicit media content, and the lack of right guidance. Moreover, the pervasiveness of ‘abstinence only’ messaging among conservative voices often leaves no room for broader conversation on issues of sexual health and rights. Unsurprisingly, this has not delivered its promise of a sexually responsible society as young people continue to challenge ideologies that disregard their sexual agency and rights. As more teenagers experience their first sexual debut, the need for age-appropriate targeted comprehensive sexuality education (CSE) deserves renewed hope. Hence, a national strategy for Nigeria demands a political will and commitment measured by the human and financial resources available to unlock better health and life outcomes for young Nigerians—leaving no one behind. This comprehensive sex education is much different from the isolated messaging on abstinence, condom use, HIV testing, fertility, contraceptives, or safe abortion. Instead, the new model of CSE requires a systemic shift in the communication of sex and sexuality information to young people. It will be characterised by the meaningful engagement of young people in the co-creation of policies, programs, and practices around sexual health and rights. ....continued soon

𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗔𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗮 𝗔𝗯𝗼𝘃𝗲 𝗔𝗹𝗹 𝗘𝗹𝘀𝗲 Excerpts: "Politicians and activists repeating platitudes in support of the transgender agenda have become accustomed to going unchallenged. Their casual endorsement of sex change procedures on minors has resulted in scores of children having their genitals mutilated, other parts of their bodies surgically disfigured, and their fertility extinguished before they even reach adulthood."   "At best, these children become lifelong consumers of the services offered to them by the same medical industry that brutalized them. Too often and too late to reverse them, they regret the 'choices' they made and are forced to reconcile themselves to a body which the adults in the room should have protected but chose instead to exploit."   "In June of this year, one of the leading medical organizations promoting these procedures received a stunning blow in the courts. A treasure trove of documents, ordered to be released by an Alabama judge, revealed that the World Professional Association for Transgender Health (WPATH) had worked with high-ranking officials in the Biden administration to promote unscientific guidelines for transgender-identified children. The revelation was possibly one of the most significant stories to date pointing to a medical community that placed political trends over scientific fact." "𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗯𝗽𝗼𝗲𝗻𝗮𝗲𝗱 𝗱𝗼𝗰𝘂𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘀 𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝘄𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝘃𝗼𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗴𝗮𝗶𝗻𝘀𝘁 𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝘅 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 𝗵𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗮𝗹𝗼𝗻𝗴—𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗪𝗣𝗔𝗧𝗛’𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹 𝘄𝗮𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗳𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝘄𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗹𝗲𝗱, 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗮 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗿𝗲𝗷𝗲𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗽𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻." "The lack of concrete evidence in favor of pediatric sex changes is perhaps why European countries have long urged caution regarding the procedures. Norway has all but banned puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and sex change surgeries, restricting them to clinical settings. Finland and Sweden have urged an approach towards transgender-identified youth that prioritizes therapy and noninvasive approaches over surgical or other interventions. England’s National Health Service (NHS) banned puberty blockers in 2023, almost a year after the NHS shut down its only youth gender clinic, Tavistock." by Sarah Wilder Full article: https://lnkd.in/e7KYcuBd Chronicles Magazine

Understanding the Increased Risk of Trichophyton mentagrophytes Genotype VII (TMVII) Among Black Women. Trichophyton mentagrophytes genotype VII (TMVII) is a rare but significant fungal infection that primarily affects men who have sex with men (MSM). However, this infection can also indirectly impact Black women due to various sociocultural factors. Here’s why: *Homophobia and Its Impact In many communities, including Black communities, homophobia remains a pervasive issue. This stigma often pressures men who are gay or bisexual to enter heterosexual relationships or marriages despite their true sexual orientation. Consequently, these men may inadvertently transmit TMVII to their female partners. *Transmission Dynamics When Black men in these situations engage in sexual relationships with women, they can transmit TMVII, leading to higher infection rates among Black women. The infection's transmission dynamics are influenced by the lack of open communication about sexual health and orientation. *Barriers to Healthcare and Education Black women often face significant barriers to accessing healthcare, including financial constraints, systemic biases, and lack of education on sexual health. These barriers can result in delayed diagnosis and treatment of infections like TMVII, increasing the risk of complications and prolonged suffering. *Cultural and Social Factors Cultural norms and expectations can discourage open discussions about sexual health, contributing to a lack of awareness and preventative measures. This can perpetuate the spread of STIs and hinder effective public health responses. To mitigate these risks, we need a comprehensive approach: 1. *Promote Awareness: Increase education and awareness about TMVII and other STIs. Encourage open discussions about sexual health in both private and public settings. 2. *Combat Stigma: Work to reduce homophobia and societal stigma surrounding sexual orientation. Support individuals in making informed decisions about their relationships and health without fear of judgment. 3. *Enhance Healthcare Access: Improve access to healthcare services for Black women, ensuring they receive timely screenings, education, and treatment. 4. *Supportive Resources: Provide resources and support for individuals grappling with their sexual identity. Create safe spaces for open dialogue and access to mental health support. By addressing these factors, we can work towards reducing the incidence of TMVII and fostering a healthier, more informed community. Let’s strive to enhance awareness, reduce stigma, and improve healthcare access for everyone. #PublicHealth #SexualHealth #HealthcareAccess #LGBTQ #Homophobia #STIs #HealthAwareness

March 31 is #TransgenderDayOfVisibility, a day to stand in solidarity with the transgender community and celebrate the positive contributions they’ve made in our lives, all while continuing to advocate for many of their own basic human rights.  The healthcare space can still present emotional and physical hazards for any vulnerable person. But, especially for a trans person undergoing gender-affirming care, it can be vulnerable and demoralizing to find that their providers don’t understand their unique needs or may even be unwilling to listen.   This is true even in the dental field, where things like hormone treatment and surgical interventions can affect a person’s oral health and require a provider’s expertise and compassion.  As someone who works in the dental benefits space with Delta Dental of Washington, today is an opportunity to share resources like this that highlight the oral health challenges of gender-affirming care. Everyone from patients, to dentists, to friends can benefit from learning a little bit more about this topic so pass it along!   Having a knowledgeable and empathetic dental provider may not be the solution to all the struggles of the transgender community. But having a safe and caring place to go for even just one of your healthcare needs can be lifechanging for someone who may be on a vulnerable and critical journey of self-discovery.   #TransDayOfVisibility #OralHealth #Healthcare #LGBTQ+

The World Association for Sexual Health (WAS) and the European Federation for Sexology (EFS) European Federation of Sexology - EFS have issued a joint statement calling for immediate action to promote the Human and Sexual Rights of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. They urge national stakeholders to ensure the availability, accessibility, and affordability of transgender healthcare, and to eliminate conversion therapy for trans and gender-diverse individuals. Dr Elna Rudolph - Sexologist, President of WAS, stated, "This statement underscores our unwavering commitment to advancing the health and rights of transgender and gender-diverse individuals. It is imperative that we adhere to scientific evidence and human rights standards to ensure inclusive and equitable healthcare." Prof. Esben Esther Pirelli Benestad, President of EFS, shared, "As a 'transgifted' individual, I have experienced firsthand the importance of access to respectful and competent healthcare. Our joint efforts with WAS are crucial in promoting the dignity and rights of transgender and gender-diverse people." Prof. Alain Giami, Vice President of WAS, emphasized, "Sexual Justice is a cornerstone of our mission. By challenging discriminatory norms and advocating for comprehensive healthcare, we can create a more just and inclusive society for all." Read the full statement here:

📢 NOW OUT! Special sexual and reproductive health and rights (#SRHR) edition of the Bulletin of the World Health Organization     📖Explore articles on a broad range of #sexualhealth topics affecting people in all their diversity across various life stages. Expert contributions highlight how sexual health is vital to individual dignity, overall well-being and socio-economic development of communities and countries. Several priorities for advancing sexual health include: 🔹Strengthening #umanrights approaches and frameworks  🔹Putting in place self-care interventions  🔹Expanding knowledge on topics such as sexual orientation, #maternalhealth, harmful #gender norms, #menstruation, mpox, gender expression and sex characteristics.      Collectively, contributions in this edition indicate the need for broader, people-centred approaches focusing on sexual empowerment and addressing social and commercial determinants of sexual health. 👉 Read the news story: https://bit.ly/4g8kjpY