Post by Medha Pfaff

My first co-authored publication out as of last week! Our nationwide study investigating living conditions and birth outcomes in vulnerable neighbourhoods was able to show that babies born into a deprived environments face increased risk for adverse events from the very beginning. In some neighbourhoods, there is twice as much baby mortality and twice as many babies are born too small compared to the national average. This is a shocking example of inequality at the start of life. This is related to the accumulation of risks in the 20 neighbourhoods within the National Programme for Livability and Safety. As my supervisor Dr. Been so poignantly points out: This shows that prevention must start before birth and that it goes beyond the medical domain. Collaboration between policy makers in coordination with a broad societal alliance is of utmost importance. To work towards a society that prioritizes a successful start in life, in which care providers, scientists, public and private parties, and governments take responsibility together. Because every child deserves a healthy start. Article via NOS: https://lnkd.in/eGrSJWK4 More background information via NRC: https://lnkd.in/ebTsAq9x Link to the underlying scientific publication in BMJ Public Health: https://lnkd.in/eP5Y5JDJ