HIA

HIA most commonly refers to Health Impact Assessment, a systematic process for evaluating the potential health effects of a policy, program, or project on a population. HIA aims to inform decision-making by considering how decisions in sectors such as transportation, housing, environment, and economics influence health determinants and health inequities.

A typical HIA follows stages: screening to determine whether an HIA is warranted; scoping to define the questions, populations, and health indicators; assessment or appraisal of potential health impacts using available evidence; reporting of findings and recommendations; and monitoring and evaluation to track outcomes after implementation.

Methods combine qualitative and quantitative data, including health indicators, demographic information, stakeholder input, and scenario analysis. The output is a set of actionable recommendations designed to maximize positive health outcomes and minimize negative ones, commonly accompanied by an implementation plan and a plan for follow-up.

Applications span urban planning, transportation projects, land use decisions, housing policies, environmental regulations, and climate adaptation. HIA is used to reveal health equity implications and to promote cross-sector collaboration by integrating public health expertise into policy development.

History and governance: modern HIA emerged in the late 20th century in Europe and North America. It is supported by government agencies, international organizations such as the World Health Organization, and academic institutions, with various guidelines and methodological manuals used to standardize practice.

Limitations include data gaps, resource constraints, and time pressures that can affect rigor; political context may influence uptake of recommendations; and measuring long-term health effects can be challenging. Despite these, HIA is widely used as a proactive tool to inform healthier policy.