The Hawai‘i Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Program is a population-based
surveillance system designed to identify and monitor maternal experiences, attitudes, and
behaviors from preconception, through pregnancy and into the interconception period.
The program is funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Division
of Reproductive Health.
HISTORY
PRAMS was developed in 1987 to supplement the birth certificate records by providing
state-specific data on maternal behaviors and experiences to be used for planning and
assessing maternal and child health programs. Hawai‘i PRAMS started out as a pilot
program in 1999, with Hawai‘i becoming an official PRAMS state in 2000. Thirty-seven
states and New York City currently participate in the PRAMS program
(six others participated previously). This represents approximately 75%
of all U.S. live births. PRAMS provides ongoing monitoring of maternal behaviors to
determine how to reduce infant deaths, decrease low birth weights and improve the
overall health of the population in Hawai‘i.
PRAMS PROJECT GOALS AND OBJECTIVES
The overall goal of PRAMS is to reduce infant morbidity and mortality by impacting
maternal and child health programs, policies and maternal behaviors during pregnancy and early infancy.
There are four PRAMS objectives:
- Collect high quality population-based data on maternal behaviors before and during
pregnancy
and during the early life of the infant.
- Conduct epidemiologic analysis and study of maternal behaviors and experiences
during pregnancy and early infancy and the relationship to health outcomes.
- Translate data analyses into useable information for program planning,
monitoring and evaluation.
- Increase public awareness of healthy pregnancy behaviors to improve maternal health across the life span.
HOW DOES PRAMS OPERATE?
A PRAMS questionnaire is mailed to approximately 200 new mothers per month on all of
the islands of Hawai‘i. The new moms are identified by the Office of Health Status and
Monitoring (OHSM), Hawai‘i Department of Health, from the birth certificates of recently
born infants. The questionnaire includes questions that are asked by PRAMS programs in
all states (core) as well as Hawai‘i-specific questions. All questions were developed
and researched by CDC to identify relevant topics and issues. The PRAMS questionnaire
addresses priority maternal and child health issues such as unintended pregnancies,
smoking and alcohol use during pregnancy, insurance at time of pregnancy, contraception,
post-partum depression and domestic violence. Hawai‘i-specific questions are selected by
the PRAMS Program, in partnership with the Hawai‘i PRAMS Steering Committee, other
Department of Health program staff, and local healthcare providers. The state-specific
questions for Hawai`i address topics such as breastfeeding, dental care, drug use,
general health, HIV, and maternal health conditions.
HAWAI‘I PRAMS QUESTIONNAIRES
HAWAI‘I PRAMS REPORTS
Data collected by the Hawai‘i PRAMS program is used to enhance discussion about
important health issues facing families in Hawaii. Reports are shared in various
formats including state reports, fact sheets, presentations, and published manuscripts.
We hope that these and other products produced using Hawai‘i PRAMS data will be useful
information to improve the health of everyone in Hawai‘i.
PRAMS Trend Report: In 2010, the PRAMS trend report was released to highlight
changes statewide in 16 indicators since Hawaii started collecting data in 2000. The
report provides estimates by County, race, and age groups for data from 2004-2008 to
show potential disparities among groups. The report highlights the need for further
analysis between poverty and the socio-economic determinants of health and the need to
collaborate with community partners to develop culturally appropriate services. A copy
of the report is available on line at http://Hawaii.gov/health/doc/pramstrendreport2010.pdf)
County-specific PRAMS trend reports are available online at the following links:
Fact Sheets: Fact sheets are used to increase discussion, focus further analyses, and serve as a way to present
data on several important issues and how they may vary among common socio-demographic groups. The
length of a fact sheet is limited and is not meant to portray a complete picture for any one
particular issue.
- Preconception Obesity(194 kb, PDF version)
Aug 2010
- Preconception Alcohol Use(373 kb, PDF version)
Aug 2010
- Preconception Vitamin(500 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Unintended Pregnancy(512 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Prenatal Care(509 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Perinatal Substance Use(513 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- High Blood Pressure and Pregnancy(135 kb, PDF version)
Aug 2010
- Maternal Diabetes and Pregnancy(132 kb, PDF version)
Aug 2010
- Cesarean Delivery(506 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Premature Births(506 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Medicaid/QUEST Birth Outcomes(504 kb, PDF version)
Oct 2008
- Intimate Partner Violence(245 kb, PDF version)
Feb 2010
- Breastfeeding(503 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Infant Sleep Position(502 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
- Postpartum Depression(501 kb, PDF version)
Jan 2011
WHY IS THE PRAMS QUESTIONNAIRE IMPORTANT FOR WOMEN'S HEALTH?
If you have recently had a baby in Hawai‘i and received a PRAMS questionnaire to complete,
please do so. Answering the PRAMS questions helps doctors, health professionals, clinics, and
organizations improve health care services for all women and children in Hawai‘i. A token of
appreciation will be sent to you approximately 4 weeks after we receive your survey. All
questionnaires are kept confidential as provided by Hawai‘i State law. No reports or responses
will be traced back to mother's participating in the survey. The Hawai‘i PRAMS birth sample is
chosen from all women who recently had a live birth. PRAMS provide data not available from other
sources about pregnancy and the first few months after birth. The gathered information can also be
compared to other states participating in PRAMS which can then help maternal and child health
organizations across the country improve their programs and policies. So, the information you
provide on the survey CAN make a real difference!
LINKS
Selected reports are available online at the
Hawai‘i Health Matters and
Hawai‘i Health Data Warehouse websites.
For further information about the National PRAMS Program, please visit the
CDC PRAMS website.
For more information about the Hawai‘i PRAMS Program, please contact:
Emily Roberson, MPH
Hawai‘i PRAMS Coordinator
Telephone: 808-733-4060
Fax: 808-733-8369
Email: PRAMS@doh.hawaii.gov
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