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Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System

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The Illinois Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is an ongoing population-based survey of women who have recently delivered a live-born infant in Illinois. PRAMS, located in the Office of Policy, Planning, and Statistics, is an important function of the Illinois Department of Public Health’s surveillance activities and is part of a national initiative by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce infant morbidity and mortality. PRAMS collects information from birthing persons about their behaviors and experiences before, during, and immediately after pregnancy. The unique information collected by the PRAMS program is used by health professionals, administrators, policymakers, and researchers to develop and modify programs and policies to improve the health of women and children in Illinois. Currently, 46 states, the District of Columbia, the Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, and New York City participate in PRAMS nationwide, representing about 81 percent of all U.S. births. For more information about the CDC PRAMS project visit the national PRAMS website (see Resources).

What subject matter does PRAMS cover?

The PRAMS questionnaire consists of a core set of questions asked by all PRAMS participating sites, as well as site-specific questions chosen by each state. The survey undergoes a major revision process or phase every four years. For specific content of Illinois surveys by year, see Illinois PRAMS Questionnaires. For specific core component content, visit the CDC website. Topic areas currently covered by PRAMS include:

  • Attitudes and feelings about the most recent pregnancy
  • Preconception care
  • Content of prenatal care
  • Medicaid and WIC participation
  • Breastfeeding
  • Cigarette smoking and alcohol use
  • Health insurance coverage
  • Physical abuse
  • Infant health care
  • Contraceptive use

PRAMS Detailed Data Tables

Select a Year

Where can I find PRAMS publications?

See Publications to view current Illinois publications containing PRAMS data. Go to the U. S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s website to view multi-state PRAMS surveillance reports by year, special topics reports, fact sheets, and reports published in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR).

Can researchers access PRAMS data?

PRAMS data are available to researchers. Researchers may access data for multiple jurisdictions by downloading the datasets from the PRAMS Automated Research File (ARF) web portal.

Requests for Illinois PRAMS datasets are reviewed on an individual basis. For more information about the request process, send an inquiry to dph.pramtrac@illinois.gov.

Methodology

Illinois applies the standardized data collection methods developed by CDC and used by all PRAMS participating sites. Data is collected through mailed and online surveys with telephone follow-up for nonresponders. A stratified systematic sample of approximately 200 mothers is selected monthly from eligible birth certificates. At 2 to 6 months after delivery, each sampled mother is mailed an introductory letter followed by a 14-page survey. A reminder letter and second mailing of the survey are sent to those who do not respond to earlier surveys. PRAMS interviewers administer the survey to mothers by telephone if they do not respond to the mailings. Surveys are sent in English and Spanish, and telephone interviews are conducted in both languages.

Statistics are based on weighted data. CDC developed the weights to adjust for sample design, nonresponse patterns, and omissions from the sampling frame. The final sampling weight used in the analysis of the survey data is the product of these three elements. Weighting is necessary to give unbiased estimates of population parameters. PRAMS data represent Illinois residents, age 14 or older, who have given live birth in Illinois. The data do not apply to all pregnant women. Women younger than the age of 18 are not asked questions about physical abuse.

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