PEMBROKE, N.C. -- Jane Jacobs of New Hanover County says every day she wakes up feeling like it's Dec. 20, 2018, the day her 46-year-old sister, Katina Locklear, was murdered in neighboring Pembroke.
Jacobs says she's had no closure in the case, which is ongoing.
Research indicates native women are more than three times more likely to be a victim of violent crimes, and in North Carolina, roughly 90 cases of missing or murdered indigenous women and children -- some cases dating back to the early 1990s -- remain unsolved.
Jacobs says it's an epidemic.
"Robeson County, and even New Hanover County, Hoke County, Bladen, Columbus County, there's huge Indian populations," she states. "Us tribe people in Robeson County, we actually know hundreds of people that are missing and murdered."
Gov. Roy Cooper has declared May 5 an official Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women in the state.
The Raleigh-based group Women AdvaNCe recently held an online rally featuring more than 20 speakers, including victims' families and elected officials, calling for legislation to create an accurate statewide database of victims.
Ericka Faircloth, co-director of Women AdvaNCe, says since most North Carolina tribes are not recognized by the federal government, there are no accurate records of exactly how many indigenous women have been murdered or have gone missing.
"People, they just vanish, all the time," Faircloth states. "It's been going on for years. No one can really pinpoint why. Anyone who investigates in the community, it's very dangerous for them to do so."
Faircloth also says misconceptions about what native women look like contribute to the problem. When a crime is reported, victims are often misclassified as black, white or Hispanic.
Jacobs says she believes that when a victim is identified as native, law enforcement tends to move slowly and prosecutions are rare.
"Evidence has been missing, and tests not done when they should be done and sitting on shelves for two years," she points out. "It's like, even though we're standing up and we're raising our voice right now, we're not getting very far with getting the help and the resolution on what's happened to these people's loved ones. "
Jacobs adds that Facebook groups like Shatter the Silence and The Missing of Robeson County, NC serve as gathering places for communities to share information and document ongoing cases.
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A federal nutrition program for low-income moms and babies now includes canned fish and beans, whole grains such as quinoa and cornmeal, and more money for fruits and vegetables.
Theda Simpson, a former participant in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program for Women, Infants and Children from Metcalfe County, said she relied on the funds for extra help paying for supplemental formula for her daughter and sons, who had milk allergies as infants. She found out about the program through her local health department and stressed it was a lifesaver for preventing her children from going hungry.
"I hope that every mother finds out about it, knows about the program, is able to access and get the help that they need to be able to feed their children," Simpson emphasized.
Under the new changes, children ages 1-4 will now receive $24 per month, pregnant and postpartum women will now receive $43 per month and breastfeeding women will now receive $47 per month, under recent USDA updates.
Research has shown the WIC program helps improve pregnancy outcomes, including lower incidences of premature births, infant mortality and low-birthweight babies.
Karena Cash, data and research director for Kentucky Youth Advocates, said WIC is not reaching every available mom or mom-to-be in the state, although advocates have been doing work to reach more households, especially in Latino communities and among kinship caregivers. The data show two of every eligible five families are not participating in the program.
"About 96% of infants in Kentucky are enrolled, whereas only about 60% of women and 51% of eligible children one to five," Cash reported. "We see some pretty big discrepancies."
Tanya Torp, executive director of the nonprofit Step By Step in Lexington serving young, single mothers and their babies, said a major barrier is a lack of understanding among grocery stores about how WIC works and what products are covered under the program.
"For us, being able to work with some of the stores is going to be really important," Torp explained. "To train the employees at the stores so that they will be able to help when someone comes in and asks questions about WIC."
Advocacy groups have developed an online toolkit for local communities and leaders, and professionals who serve young children to help get the word out about the WIC program. Nationwide, more than 6 million women and children rely on WIC each month.
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October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month - and experts say in recent years, they've seen a rise in diagnoses among women younger than age 40, as well as Asian American women.
Patients should discuss their risk factors, such as family medical history, breast density, age and lifestyle with a doctor. Dr. Tran Ho, a breast surgical oncologist at El Camino Health in Mountain View, sees the issue firsthand.
"If we're thinking about early-stage breast cancers, for example, if it is caught at a very early stage, the five-year survival rates are near 99% for these women, and so patients do enormously well if we can catch these cancers early," she explained.
According to the California Cancer Registry, 25,000 women are expected to be diagnosed with breast cancer this year, making it the second most common type of cancer among women in the Golden State.
Ho said certain aggressive types of breast cancer are seen in women age 40 and younger - but they respond well with early detection.
"Triple-negative breast cancers or HER-2 positive breast cancers are very treatable. It's just that these types of cancers can grow at a quicker rate, and so they're more likely to recur," she continued.
The good news is that survival rates are improving; surgeries are becoming less invasive, and radiation is now more targeted, which reduces long-term side effects.
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A new report sheds light on the state of women's health in Ohio, with growing concerns about maternal care and postpartum mental health.
As September is one of the peak months for births, many new mothers face challenges such as postpartum depression.
Jennifer Winston, health data scientist for U.S. News and World Report, shared insights from the March of Dimes' latest report on maternity care deserts.
"Half of U.S. counties don't have hospitals providing obstetric care and a third don't have a single obstetric clinician," Winston pointed out. "Postpartum depression is a really important part of maternal health care. These closures put a lot of pressure on hospitals, especially in rural areas."
Winston's findings underscored concerns the lack of access to maternal health care services directly affects mental health, particularly for women in rural communities. The gap in care can intensify feelings of isolation and make it harder for new mothers to seek timely help during and after pregnancy.
Experts continue to emphasize the importance of early intervention and comprehensive support for women experiencing postpartum depression.
Dr. Donna O'Shea, OB/GYN and chief medical officer for population health at UnitedHealthcare, stressed the value of both medical and emotional support, encouraging new mothers to reach out if they notice signs of postpartum depression, such as overwhelming sadness, fatigue or feelings of disconnection.
"One in five women experience pregnancy-related mental health conditions," O'Shea noted. "Of women who have postpartum depression, 20% will face suicidal thoughts and even attempt self-harm."
While awareness of postpartum depression continues to grow, O'Shea emphasized improving access to mental health and obstetric care remains a priority. For Ohio mothers, especially those in rural or underserved areas, she said bridging these gaps will be crucial to ensuring their well-being during the postpartum period.
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