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What is PRAMS?*

PRAMS, the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, is a surveillance project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. PRAMS collects state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

Nationally, PRAMS was initiated in 1987 because U.S. infant mortality rates were no longer declining as rapidly as they had in prior years. In addition, the incidence of low birth weight infants had changed little in the previous 20 years. Research has indicated that maternal behaviors during pregnancy may influence infant birth weight and mortality rates. The goal of the PRAMS project is to improve the health of mothers and infants by reducing adverse outcomes such as low birth weight, infant mortality and morbidity, and maternal morbidity.

How are PRAMS data used?*

• PRAMS provides data not available from other sources about pregnancy and the first few months after birth. These data can be used to identify groups of women and infants at high risk for health problems, to monitor changes in health status, and to measure progress towards goals in improving the health of mothers and infants.
• PRAMS data are used by researchers to investigate emerging issues in the field of maternal and child health.
• PRAMS data are used by state and local governments to plan and review programs and policies aimed at reducing health problems among mothers and babies.
• PRAMS data are used by state agencies to identify other agencies that have important contributions to make in planning maternal and infant health programs and to develop partnerships with those agencies.

Example PRAMS Kansas Start-Up Schedule (Word)

Which States Participate in PRAMS?* (link)

Using PRAMS Surveillance Data to Promote Public Health* (link)

Example Applications of PRAMS Data in Other States* (link)

More Information

For additional information, see the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention PRAMS Home Page at www.cdc.gov/prams.

*Source: CDC PRAMS website, www.cdc.gov/prams.

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