Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (Minnesota PRAMS)

The Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (Minnesota PRAMS) is a surveillance project between the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PRAMS is a population–based survey designed to collect information on maternal behaviors and experiences before, during, and shortly after a woman's pregnancy. The CDC initiated PRAMS in 1987 to reduce infant mortality and the incidence of low birth weight and Minnesota started the PRAMS project in May 2002. Forty-seven states, the District of Columbia, New York City, Puerto Rico, and the Great Plains Tribal Chairman’s Health Board (CDC´s map of participating PRAMS States) currently participate in PRAMS.
PRAMS surveillance currently covers about 83% of all U.S. births

Importance of the PRAMS Project

• PRAMS provides data on mothers and babies, not available from other sources.
• PRAMS allows CDC and the states to monitor changes in maternal and child health indicators (e.g., unintended pregnancy, prenatal care, breastfeeding, smoking, drinking, and infant health).
• PRAMS allows CDC and states to monitor progress towards local, state, and national health objectives and goals such as Healthy People 2030 topics and objectives.
• PRAMS data is used to develop and implement new maternal and child health (MCH) programs and modify existing MCH programs.
• PRAMS informs public health policy and supports legislative proposals.
• PRAMS provides data for Title V MCH Block Grant needs assessments.

Minnesota PRAMS Goal

The goal of Minnesota PRAMS is to improve the health of mothers and babies in Minnesota by reducing the risk of adverse birth outcomes like low birthweight, preterm birth, as well as infant and maternal morbidity and mortality. Minnesota PRAMS provides essential data to identify high-risk groups, select maternal and child health priorities, establish prevention programs, and inform policy changes that can improve the health of mothers and babies in Minnesota.

Minnesota Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), Minnesota Department of Health, Division of Child & Family Health, Maternal and Child Health. This data is made possible by grant number 5U01DP006217 from the Centers for Disease Control.