Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

How can data from PRAMS be used?

PRAMS provides information about pregnancy and the first few months after birth. The Department of Health began collecting PRAMS data in June 2002. The first full year of data became available in the Fall of 2004. PRAMS data can be used to:

Increase understanding of maternal behaviors and experiences and their relationship to adverse pregnancy outcomes
Identify groups of women and infants at high risk for health problems
Monitor changes in health status indicators such as unintended pregnancy, prenatal care, breastfeeding, smoking, drinking, and infant health
Measure progress towards local, state, and national goals for improving the health of mothers and infants
Develop new, and modify existing, maternal and child health programs.
Help health professionals incorporate new research findings into standards of practice
Influence public health policy

HEALTH Information Line
1-800-942-7434

Highlights

"Doctors should provide parents -- especially first time parents as my husband and I -- with more information regarding breastfeeding, car safety, and over the counter medicines that are safe to use . . . I think that there are many mothers and parents who might not know about or have access to classes on caring for you and your baby, breastfeeding and childbirth."

From women who have completed the PRAMS survey