Social media users celebrate blood donor who helped millions of babies
Plus, posts discussed how abortion bans impact maternal health and continued conversations about IVF.
Plus, posts discussed how abortion bans impact maternal health and continued conversations about IVF.
This past week, articles and social media posts acknowledged the death of a man who saved millions of babies by donating his blood and plasma, which contained a lifesaving antibody. Plus, conversations about the maternal health impacts of abortion bans and in vitro fertilization continued.
In response, communicators may share information about prenatal care and blood type screening, recirculate information about local abortion laws, and continue sharing information about IVF, as well as tips for improving fertility.
Insights brought to you by the reporters and science writers of Public Good News (PGN), a nonprofit newsroom dedicated to improving community health.
What’s trending nationally in conversations about reproductive health:
Recent articles reported that an Australian man credited with saving more than 2 million babies through blood and plasma donations died last month. The man’s blood contained a rare antibody called anti-D. That antibody is used to create a medication for pregnant people whose red blood cells are incompatible with that of their fetus, putting the fetus at risk of a dangerous blood disorder. Facebook posts sharing articles about the man’s death received millions of views and thousands of comments. Most commenters thanked the man for his blood donations, and many highlighted the importance of prenatal screening for red blood cell incompatibility.
On March 5, the U.S. Department of Justice dismissed a lawsuit against Idaho that aimed to protect abortion access during medical emergencies. Despite this move, pregnant people in Idaho can still get abortions when their life or health is at risk due to a temporary restraining order that protects abortion in those cases. Pregnant people whose lives are at risk, as well as survivors of rape or incest who have reported the crime to law enforcement and are in the first trimester of pregnancy, can also get abortions in Idaho. Articles discussing the lawsuit’s dismissal were shared across social media platforms, where commenters expressed concern about how abortion bans in Idaho and other states impact maternal health.
On March 4, an X user shared a post stating, “Now almost everyone I know is using IVF to get pregnant. Maybe ‘access’ isn’t what we should be discussing but WHY.” The post received approximately 575,000 views, 10,000 likes, 740 reposts, and 540 comments as of March 11. Popular comments disparaged IVF and alleged that conceiving “naturally” is best for pregnant people and their babies. Others questioned how to improve fertility without medical intervention.
Recommendations brought to you by the health communication experts behind Infodemiology.com.
Recommendations for public health professionals
Each week, the Infodemiology.com team will provide messaging recommendations in response to some of the trending narratives outlined above. These helpful tips can be used when creating content, updating web and FAQ pages, and developing strategy for messaging about reproductive health.
In light of conversations about anti-D medication, communicators may explain the Rh factor in blood type. The Rh factor refers to whether someone’s blood type is positive (A+, B+, AB+, or O+) or negative (A-, B-, AB-, or O-). A rare pregnancy complication occurs when the pregnant person has Rh-negative blood and the fetus has Rh-positive blood, which is why pregnant people should be screened for blood type and antibodies. If the pregnant person’s blood type is not compatible, a health care provider will prescribe anti-D medication—also known as Rho(D) immune globulin—to help protect the fetus from developing a blood disorder. Emphasizing that this condition is rare and only occurs when the pregnant person is Rh-negative is recommended. Communicators may also want to share local clinics that offer free and low-cost prenatal care and outline what to expect at a prenatal appointment.
Posts about Idaho’s abortion ban provide an opportunity to recirculate information about local abortion laws. In response to questions about the maternal health impacts of abortion bans, communicators may explain that abortion bans have been shown to delay lifesaving care, even in states that have exceptions in cases when the health or life of the pregnant person is in danger.
Conversations about IVF have persisted in recent media monitoring, showing an ongoing need for information about how IVF works and why it is increasingly common. Messaging may explain that more people are using IVF to get pregnant due to improved IVF access and more effective and accessible contraception, which has contributed to progressively delayed childbearing. Since fertility declines with age, people who want to become pregnant later in life may need to seek IVF. Communicators may explain that IVF is a medical procedure in which an embryo made from a person’s own eggs or donor eggs is implanted in their uterus to initiate a pregnancy. While it is generally considered safe, IVF raises the chances of certain health problems that can affect pregnancy outcomes. Continuing to share information about how to improve fertility both with and without medical intervention is recommended.