Study Finds Room to Boost Maternal and Child Health Participation in Health Impact Assessments

This publication examines a study showing how health impact assessments (HIAs) provide an action-oriented framework for maternal and child health (MCH) professionals to become involved in cross-sector collaboration to improve health equity.

HIAs conducted in the United States have not extensively involved the MCH workforce, but they do regularly incorporate MCH-relevant content, according to the study led by Georgia Health Policy Center researchers. HIAs bring health perspectives into non-health decision-making by determining the potential effects of a proposed policy, plan, program, or project on the health of a population. The researchers reviewed 350 HIAs conducted since 2010 and voluntarily housed in the Health Impact Project repository.