Latest news with #IndianaDepartmentofHealth
Axios
6 days ago
- Health
- Axios
More people are listening to their peers instead of their doctors
More people across the globe are taking health decisions into their own hands, especially young adults, a new survey finds. Why it matters: Dwindling trust in legacy institutions in the wake of the pandemic could have health impacts for Hoosiers already dealing with disparities in our state's health care system. Driving the news: The communications firm Edelman surveyed more than 16,000 people across 16 countries in March. What they found: In the U.S., 61% of respondents believe business, government and non-governmental organizations hurt their ability to get quality care. By the numbers: Peer-driven health care decisions surged between 2024 and 2025 in all age groups, but young adults are shifting the fastest. 45% of those aged 18 to 34 said they've disregarded their health provider's guidance in favor of information from a friend or family member in the past year — a 13-point increase from the previous year. 38% of young adults said they've ignored their provider in favor of advice from social media, a 12-point increase from the year before. Yes, but: Nearly 60% of young adults say they've made at least one health decision they regret based on inaccurate or misleading information. What they're saying:"Younger adults have truly created their own health ecosystem with how they're looking for information, who they trust, what they're doing with health information," said Courtney Gray Haupt, global health co-chair and U.S. health chair at Edelman. Between the lines: With trust being the crux of changing behavior, there is concern that the problem may be even more significant among communities of color that carry generational mistrust of health care systems. Representation can also be a difference maker, with 66% of survey respondents saying to see someone as a legitimate health expert, that person needs to "understand what people like me need and want." Indiana Health Fair approaches One way Indiana health leaders try to help Hoosiers clear trust and cost barriers is through the annual Indiana Health Fair. It's staged by the Indiana Department of Health and held during Indiana Black Expo's Summer Celebration. The largest of its kind, the event offers more than $4,000 in free health screenings and services with a focus on boosting awareness and prevention of chronic diseases like diabetes, heart disease, stroke, hypertension and cancer. Leaders want to provide a less intimidating environment in which to speak with health care professionals that reflect their community. State of play: Last year's event introduced a new mental health series to combat stigmas in the Black community. IBE president and CEO Alice Watson said the 2025 fair will see that effort continue and include a special art exhibit called "The Faces of Us." "That particular exhibit would actually be a photography exhibit showing just the faces of mental health. And you'd be surprised at those folks who have challenges with it," Watson said. "It's not just who you think it is." If you go: The 2025 Indiana Health Fair runs July 17-20 at the Indiana Convention Center.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Indiana has a near-total abortion ban. But hospitals still performed some in 2024
Less than 150 abortions were performed in Indiana in 2024, according to new data released by the Indiana Department of Health, a sharp decrease from prior years now that abortion is mostly illegal here. By comparison, there were about 9,500 abortions performed here in 2022, the last full year before the state's near-total abortion ban went into effect. Most of the 146 abortions in Indiana last year were to women who were well into their pregnancies - 14 weeks or more. Forty of those abortions were in pregnancies at over 21 weeks gestation. More than 65% of the abortions took place due to a lethal fetal anomaly, such as anencephaly, where a baby's brain and skull were missing or incomplete, or congenital heart malformation. Another 28% were due to a serious health or life risk of the pregnant woman, such as eclampsia, a sometimes fatal high-blood pressure condition, renal disease or premature placenta separation. Just 6% were due to rape or incest. About half of the women were married at the time of receiving the abortion, and most have at least one child already. All were performed at hospitals. In three cases, the fetus was born alive, according to the report. A 2024 Canadian study showed that second-trimester abortion carries a risk of live birth especially at 20 to 24 weeks gestation. Generally, babies born before 23 weeks have a very low survival rate, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The data comes from Indiana Department of Health's latest summary of terminated pregnancy reports that are submitted to the state health department. Abortion is mostly illegal in Indiana since an Indiana General Assembly near-ban went into effect in August 2023. The law prohibits all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities or where the mother's life is at risk. In the cases of rape or incest, abortion is allowed up to 10 weeks. Previously, abortion was legal in Indiana up to 22 weeks. Court cases arguing that the ban in its entirety was unconstitutional did not survive the Indiana Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in favor of the state of Indiana. However, another lawsuit that argues that Indiana's near-total ban violates the religious freedom of Hoosiers, is ongoing. The Indiana Supreme Court in December declined to take up an appeal on a lower court's preliminary injunction. If those plaintiffs are eventually successful, it could open the door to more abortions here for those asking for religious exemptions. Contact senior government accountability reporter Hayleigh Colombo at hcolombo@ Sign up for our free weekly politics newsletter, Checks & Balances, by IndyStar political and government reporters. This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana's abortion ban is strict. But some women are still getting them
Indianapolis Star
15-05-2025
- Health
- Indianapolis Star
Indiana has a near-total abortion ban. But hospitals still performed some in 2024
Less than 150 abortions were performed in Indiana in 2024, according to new data released by the Indiana Department of Health, a sharp decrease from prior years now that abortion is mostly illegal here. By comparison, there were about 9,500 abortions performed here in 2022, the last full year before the state's near-total abortion ban went into effect. Most of the 146 abortions in Indiana last year were to women who were well into their pregnancies - 14 weeks or more. Forty of those abortions were in pregnancies at over 21 weeks gestation. More than 65% of the abortions took place due to a lethal fetal anomaly, such as anencephaly, where a baby's brain and skull were missing or incomplete, or congenital heart malformation. Another 28% were due to a serious health or life risk of the pregnant woman, such as eclampsia, a sometimes fatal high-blood pressure condition, renal disease or premature placenta separation. Just 6% were due to rape or incest. About half of the women were married at the time of receiving the abortion, and most have at least one child already. All were performed at hospitals. In three cases, the fetus was born alive, according to the report. A 2024 Canadian study showed that second-trimester abortion carries a risk of live birth especially at 20 to 24 weeks gestation. Generally, babies born before 23 weeks have a very low survival rate, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists. The data comes from Indiana Department of Health's latest summary of terminated pregnancy reports that are submitted to the state health department. Abortion is mostly illegal in Indiana since an Indiana General Assembly near-ban went into effect in August 2023. The law prohibits all abortions except in cases of rape, incest, fetal abnormalities or where the mother's life is at risk. In the cases of rape or incest, abortion is allowed up to 10 weeks. Previously, abortion was legal in Indiana up to 22 weeks. Court cases arguing that the ban in its entirety was unconstitutional did not survive the Indiana Supreme Court's 2023 ruling in favor of the state of Indiana. However, another lawsuit that argues that Indiana's near-total ban violates the religious freedom of Hoosiers, is ongoing. The Indiana Supreme Court in December declined to take up an appeal on a lower court's preliminary injunction. If those plaintiffs are eventually successful, it could open the door to more abortions here for those asking for religious exemptions.
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First full year under Indiana's ban reveals 146 abortions occurred in 2024
In this photo illustration, packages of Mifepristone tablets are displayed at a family planning clinic on April 13, 2023 in Rockville, Maryland. (Photo illustration by) An Indiana Department of Health report released in April shows a total of 146 abortions occurred in 2024 – a 98% decrease from 2022. This is the first annual terminated pregnancy report in which the state's near-total abortion ban was in full effect. Ninety-three of the abortions were performed due to lethal fetal anomaly; 40 were due to serious health risk or life of the mother and nine were due to rape or incest. More than half were performed by using an abortion pill or intracardiac rest were surgical procedures. In 2023, while the ban was partially in effect, there were a total of 4,579 abortions performed in Indiana. Before the ban was in effect in 2022, there were a total of 9,529 abortions. Half of the women who obtained an abortion were between the ages of 25-34 while only two were under the age of 16. Nearly half of the women indicated they were married. Under the state's ban, abortions can only be done in hospitals. CONTACT US Nine hospitals in Marion, Allen and St. Joseph counties carried out the abortions. There were 67 terminations reported at Riley Health Maternity Tower and 52 reported at Sidney & Lois Eskanazi Hospital. Both of these hospitals are located in Indianapolis. Indiana law requires that health care providers who perform terminated pregnancies report to the IDOH. Providers must report within 30 days if the patient is 16 or older and within three days if younger than 16. Each of the reports should include demographic, medical and procedural information. While 142 terminated pregnancies reports were submitted to the IDOH through the electronic reporting system, Indiana University Health submitted four incomplete reports via email that lacked demographic, medical and procedural details. The reports did include that they occurred at an IU Health facility in 2024 but did not report all the required information. Two doctors from IU Health testified in March that they haven't submitted the reports since Dec. 23 — when a new federal rule on reproductive health care privacy went into effect. In January, Indiana Gov. Mike Braun signed new executive orders on abortion records to ensure the laws are 'fully and faithfully executed,' including terminated pregnancy report submissions. In February, the Indiana Department of Health settled with an anti-abortion group – backed by Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita – to continue to release individual reports filed on abortion after opting to no longer release these reports due to patient privacy concerns in December 2023. A judge, however, blocked that release. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Preventing from tick-borne illnesses
VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTWO/WAWV) — Health officials are warning Hoosiers to beware of ticks. This is after the Indiana Department of Health reported a fatal case of the tick-borne illness Ehrlichiosis in Southern Indiana. Here locally, the Vigo County Health Department is sharing some tips to stay safe. Health Educator Shelby Jackson said ticks are active from early spring to late fall, and they're not limited to dense wooded areas, they can also be found in grassy areas. Jackson said people can spray themselves with a tick repellent if they are spending time outdoors. Then once you go back inside, she said it's important to check your skin and clothing for ticks. 'When you're removing a tick, it's important that you use some tweezers and you want to get the whole body of the tick and also the head. So, take the tweezers all the way down to the skin and fully grasp the tick and pull up. You don't want to pull at an angle or anywhere that could potentially break the head of the tick off from the body,' said Jackson. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
