Maryland PRAMS

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

 
 
 

 

What is PRAMS?

Maryland PRAMS is a project to help us learn why some babies are born healthy and others are not. One out of every 35 women who gave birth each month is selected, at random, to participate in the PRAMS project. These mothers are sent a survey, which is available in both English and Spanish, and asked to provide answers to questions about their behaviors and experiences before, during and shortly after pregnancy. With this information, we can work to improve health for all mothers and babies. Forty-seven states, Washington, D.C., New York City, and Puerto Rico currently participate in PRAMS, representing approximately 83% of all U.S. live births. (Participating States).
 

Why Maryland joined PRAMS

Each year in Maryland there are hundreds of babies born with serious health problems and some of these babies do not survive. Many things in a mother's life and pregnancy may affect her health and the health of her unborn child. We ask questions to try and gain an understanding of some of the things that occurred during the new mother's pregnancy as well as during the time shortly after she gave birth. No matter how a mother's pregnancy went, her answers will help us learn more about ways to improve health outcomes for future mothers and babies in Maryland.
 

Maryland Mothers

Beginning with babies born in January 2000, Maryland started surveying between 150-220 new mothers each month. Approximately one out of every 35 women who has given birth to a live baby in Maryland is randomly selected to participate in PRAMS. All survey answers are strictly confidential. Every year over 2,000 mothers who delivered live babies were sent PRAMS surveys. These women are a diverse group and reflect the State's population of mothers who deliver live births.
 

PRAMS Funding

Maryland PRAMS is a surveillance project supported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The Maternal and Child Health Bureau (MCHB), Vital Statistics Administration, and Maryland Department of Health (MDH) have a cooperative data sharing agreement with the CDC to participate in PRAMS. Maryland's agreement with the CDC (http://www.cdc.gov/PRAMS ) currently runs through April 30, 2026.
 

Data

 
For static data tables on selected MCH indicators by state for 2017-2020 births, please visit the CDC PRAMS website (https://www.cdc.gov/prams/pramstat/mch-indicators.html).
 

Steering Committee

The Maryland PRAMS Steering Committee advises PRAMS staff in the development and selection of state-specific questions and on the use, dissemination, and application of findings.  The Steering Committee may use PRAMS findings to guide recommendations for developing or modifying intervention programs or for securing resources for program changes.   
 

 
Updated 6/2020
PRAMS LINKS
     Reports
     Methodology    
     Survey
 
Maryland Prams Mother's quote