About PRAMS

Why is PRAMS important?

• PRAMS provides data for state health officials to use to improve the health of mothers and infants.
• PRAMS allows CDC and the states to monitor changes in maternal and child health indicators (e.g., unintended pregnancy, prenatal care, breastfeeding, smoking, drinking, infant health).
• PRAMS enhances information from birth certificates used to plan and review state maternal and infant health programs.
• The PRAMS sample is chosen from all women who had a live birth recently, so findings can be applied to the state's entire population of women who have recently delivered a live-born infant.
• PRAMS not only provides state-specific data but also allows comparisons among participating states because the same data collection methods are used in all states.

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.
• State and local governments to plan and review programs and policies aimed at reducing health problems among mothers and babies.
• 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.