Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA)

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About Us

Each year approximately 500,000 individuals give birth in California. Although most pregnancies are healthy, many birthing individuals and infants face challenges in reaching optimal health. The Maternal and Infant Health Assessment (MIHA) survey helps to identify and monitor these challenges. MIHA is a population-based survey of individuals with a recent live birth in California that has been conducted annually since 1999. MIHA collects self-reported information about maternal and infant experiences and about maternal attitudes and behaviors before, during and shortly after pregnancy. Data from MIHA guide health policies and programs for California birthing individuals, infants and families. MIHA is a collaboration between California's Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health (MCAH) Division and UC San Francisco's Center for Health Equity.

Our Goal: Annually collect and disseminate MIHA data to partners working to address the challenges California residents face in achieving optimal health before, during and shortly after pregnancy.

We Serve: Local health jurisdictions, state agencies, community-based organizations, care providers and others that support public health program planning and policy development.

Outcomes: Data-informed public health action and improved monitoring of the status of maternal and infant health in California. Stakeholders can use MIHA data when collaborating with partners across multiple disciplines to help ensure that all California birthing individuals and infants have healthy places in which to live, grow, work and play. MIHA data are presented by statewide maternal subgroups and by county or regional area.

Funding: The MIHA project is supported by the California Department of Public Health using federal funds from the Title V Maternal and Child Health Block Grant and other CDPH funding sources.

MIHA Methods and County-Level Data Availability

MIHA is a stratified random sample of English- or Spanishspeaking birthing individuals with a recent live birth. MIHA data are weighted to represent all individuals with a live birth in California, excluding individuals who were non-residents, were younger than 15 years old at delivery, had a multiple birth greater than triplets, or had a missing address on the birth certificate. MIHA data are collected by mail with telephone follow-up to determine maternal and infant experiences before, during and shortly after pregnancy. The MIHA questionnaire and methods are similar to those used by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in conducting the multi-state Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS). Starting in 2013, county-level estimates are available for the 35 counties with the greatest number of births. Due to their smaller birth populations and sample sizes, county-level estimates are not provided for the remaining 23 counties. Regional MIHA Data include births from all counties within a given geographical area.

Using MIHA Data to Improve Maternal and Infant Health

MIHA data are used to assess MCAH community needs, set priorities, track progress and make program and policy decisions including targeting limited resources. MIHA identifies critical emerging health issues facing birthing individuals and children. Related publications and Data Snapshots can be found on the MIHA websiteon the Data and Reports page.

Highlights of MIHA Data to Action

MIHA provides data to meet Title V MCH Block Grant reporting requirements and set priorities to guide State and Local MCAH programs throughout California.
MIHA staff collaborated with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to develop Healthy People 2020 (HP 2020) Objectives, which allow states to compare the well-being of their maternal and infant population to national benchmarks. The CDC continues to use data results from the MIHA survey for HP 2020 reporting.
MIHA data are used by state and local WIC program directors to inform grant writing activities and customize outreach strategies to address specific barriers to participation in WIC during pregnancy.