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From Data to Action: Introduction |
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Using Surveillance To Promote Public Health
Examples from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY PUBLICATION YEAR 2002
Introduction: Moving from Data to Action
 The
definitive measure of a surveillance system’s success is its contribution to
improved understanding and prevention of adverse health events. One of the
primary objectives of PRAMS is to provide high-quality data that can be used
for planning, modifying, and evaluating public health programs and policies
to benefit pregnant women, their infants, and their families.
The transformation of public health surveillance or research data into
usable information can be referred to as translation. PRAMS surveillance
data can be incorporated into public health decision making, or translated,
in a variety of ways. In this booklet, examples show how PRAMS data have
been used by states to:
- Set priorities—establish priorities for programs, services, or
resources.
- Change policies—inform and justify decisions to modify state
health policies.
- Change programs—modify existing public health programs, develop
new programs, or adjust the content of programs.
- Identify new resources—support the appropriation of new
resources for programs and services.
Each case highlights the crucial role that partnerships play in the
successful application of these data. This is demonstrated at the outset of
action, when raising the visibility of an issue is needed, and at the
fruition of action when a policy or program is changed or when resources are
found to support programs.
PRAMS states have used their data to focus on a variety of special
maternal and child health issues. Topic areas featured in this publication
include unintended pregnancy, tobacco use, violence, prenatal care, folic
acid, infant sleep position, and breast-feeding.
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Page last reviewed: 3/24/06
Page last modified: 3/24/06
Content source: Division
of Reproductive Health,
National Center for Chronic Disease
Prevention and Health Promotion
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