Health

The case for starting sex education in kindergarten

By Saskia de Melker

In the Netherlands, the approach, known as “comprehensive sex education,” starts as early as age 4. You'll never hear an explicit reference to sex in a kindergarten class. The goal is bigger than that. It’s about having open, honest conversations…

Two Listeria recalls raise questions about ice cream manufacturing

By Mary Clare Jalonick, Associated Press

Blue Bell Creameries of Texas and Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams of Ohio — extremely popular brands in their home states — took all their products off shelves this week. Blue Bell ice cream is linked to 10 illnesses in four…

8 things you didn't know about Truvada

By Daniel Costa-Roberts

Truvada can be used for what is called "PrEP," short for "pre-exposure prophylaxis," the controversial practice of using antiretroviral drugs to prevent HIV infection.

5 things you should know about end-of-life conversations

By Megan Thompson

Here are 5 things that advocates from the "Conversation Project" say you should know about starting a conversation about end-of-life care with your loved ones.

U.S. tightens rules for disclosing chemicals used in fracking

By Matthew Daly, Josh Lederman, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The Obama administration said Friday it is requiring companies that drill for oil and natural gas on federal lands to disclose chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations.

Can countries survive their move to the middle class?

By Larisa Epatko

HANOI, Vietnam -- Vietnam has pulled itself up economically over the decades. One of the consequences? Diminishing donor funds.

Dirty water more deadly for women than HIV, breast cancer

By Rebecca Lee

Dirty water and poor sanitation kill more women across the globe than diabetes, HIV or breast cancer, researchers said this week.

Flu winds down as FDA aims for better vaccine next winter

By Lauran Neergaard, Associated Press

WASHINGTON — The miserable flu season is winding down but not quite over yet, health officials said Wednesday, even the government picked what it hoped would be a better vaccine recipe for next fall and winter.

WHO: More than 1 billion young people at risk for hearing loss

By Daniel Costa-Roberts

More than 1 billion young people around the world are at risk of hearing loss because of recreational exposure to loud sounds, the World Health Organization said Friday.

How a soccer-crazy family copes with concern about head safety

By William Brangham

Soccer's a contact sport. Kids can get hurt. I'm not looking to bubble-wrap my kids, but I'd be lying if I said my wife and I weren't increasingly uneasy while watching from the sidelines.