American Academy of Health Behaviors Conference, 2026
Home Visiting as a Strategic Community-Based Intervention to Improve Health Equity Among Childbearing Women: Results From a Scoping Review
Quick Summary
- AAHB 2026, Austin, TX: A review of U.S. perinatal home visiting programs found mixed evidence for improving mothers’ health
Background: Perinatal home visiting (HV) programs are evidence-based, community-embedded interventions designed to reduce health inequities during pregnancy and after birth. However, much of the research documenting programmatic successes centers infant and child outcomes, while providing limited to no data on important maternal outcomes. This is a significant gap. Childbearing is a vulnerable period during which early signs of mid- and later-life health risks in women emerge. Understanding how HV programs maximize benefits for mothers’ short- and long-term health may improve women’s health in high-risk communities.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to conduct a scoping review of research on perinatal HV interventions to critically examine their impact on maternal health outcomes using a socioecological health-equity framework.
Methods: A systematic search of the HV literature in the US from 2000-2025 was performed. In total, 1338 titles and abstracts were screened, and of these, 238 articles were included in the full-text review. Full-text screening yielded 80 included articles. Data were extracted and organized using the health-equity framework to assess how HV interventions promote maternal health and to identify gaps for future research, programmatic efforts, and policy recommendations.
Results: Overall, perinatal HV intervention efficacy that is specific to short- and long-term maternal health outcomes is mixed. Approximately one-third of studies found decreases in physiological risk factors including adverse pregnancy outcomes and mental health risk. Conversely, 16% of articles identified no changes in maternal mental health (i.e., postpartum depression), and no or modest improvements in maternal physical health (e.g., preterm birth or substance abuse).
Discussion: Given their intensive nature, perinatal HV has the potential to improve maternal health equity in addition to improving infant/child outcomes. Future studies should incorporate more short- and long-term maternal outcomes in evaluations of perinatal HV to enhance their effectiveness in improving overall population health.