Making the Connection: How to Effectively Link Maternal and Child Health Data and Policy to Improve Maternal and Child Health Practice

BACKGROUND:  The culture of Maternal and Child Health (MCH) epidemiology is often described as antithetical to the culture of policymaking. Scientific study takes time, of which is there is often very little in a legislative session or rule making process.  Most importantly, however, the format in which MCH data are presented (research articles and lengthy reports) are not easily accessible to those writing new laws or developing new programs and associated budgets. Policy makers, looking to address budget reductions and deficits, are pushing for more data for use in focusing both current and future MCH investments.  Specifically, MCH professionals are increasingly being asked for local, state, and national data on MCH needs to drive program investments, data on program effectiveness to continue to support programs that work and eliminate those that do not, and data on the impact of MCH programs to demonstrate the return on the public’s investments.

METHODS: We identified three major cultural differences between epidemiologists and policymakers that serve as barriers to translating data to policy effectively. These are presentation of information, motivation and rewards, and implied beliefs about the other group. 

RESULTS:  

We present five strategies that epidemiologists can use when working with policymakers.

1. Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good

2. Less is more

3. Timing is everything

4. Policy by anecdote is not necessarily a bad thing

5. Data do not speak for themselves

CONCLUSIONS:

In order to effectively link MCH data to policy, public health practitioners should make efforts to understand the policy-making process and make the evidence more accessible to policy makers. When sharing evidence, practitioners should present a complete and concise scenario that includes a statement of the problem, the impact of that problem and a recommended policy solution. Using the five strategies outlined above, epidemiologists can maximize the impact of the best available evidence on policy development.