What is
the timeframe for NE PRAMS?
How can data from PRAMS be used?
What is PRAMS?
NE PRAMS, the Nebraska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System, is a monthly survey
of new mothers from across the state. NE PRAMS partners with the Centers for Disease
Control & Prevention (CDC), to identify and monitor selected maternal behaviors and
experiences before, during, and right after pregnancy.
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What are the goals and objectives
of PRAMS?
The goal of PRAMS is to reduce infant illness and death.
PRAMS influences the health care systems and maternal behaviors that affect
health during and right after pregnancy. Four specific objectives are to:
·
Collect population-based data of high scientific quality
on topics related to pregnancy and early infancy;
·
Conduct comprehensive analyses in order to better
understand relationships between the behaviors, attitudes, and experiences of a woman
during and right after pregnancy;
·
Translate results from analyses into information to be
used for planning and evaluating public health programs and policy;
·
Build capacity to collect, analyze and translate data
that address relevant and timely maternal and child health issues.
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How does PRAMS work?
Each month, a stratified sample of approximately 200 mothers is randomly selected from
recent birth certificates. An introductory letter is mailed to each woman in the
sample between two and six months after the baby's birth. The PRAMS survey is mailed
a few days later. A second and then third survey package is mailed to mothers who do
not respond. PRAMS staff then telephone those mothers who have not responded to the
survey mailings. Responses are collected in a database and weighted to represent all
women giving birth in Nebraska.
PRAMS written materials and telephone interviews are available in both English and
Spanish.
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Who are the partners in PRAMS?
NE PRAMS is operated by the Nebraska Department of Health & Human Services, and is
guided on suggestions by an external Steering Committee.
Those members are drawn from maternal and child health stakeholder organizations
across the state. The CDC provides partial funding and technical assistance.
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What information does the PRAMS
survey collect?
The survey consists of a core component used by all states
participating in PRAMS, and a state-specific component developed to
address Nebraska's particular data needs. The survey, which is designed to provide
data on topics not available elsewhere, includes the following:
·
Attitudes and
feelings about the pregnancy
·
Barriers to and
content of prenatal care
·
Nutrition and folic
acid awareness
·
Pregnancy-related
violence
·
Psychosocial support
and stress
·
Use of alcohol and
tobacco before, during and after pregnancy
·
Infant's early
development, health care, and exposure to passive smoke
·
HIV testing
·
Health insurance
coverage
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What is the timeframe for NE
PRAMS?
NE PRAMS is an ongoing surveying program. Published reports are based on births
from January to December.
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How can data from PRAMS be used?
Findings from PRAMS' population-based data can be generalized to the entire population
of Nebraska women whose pregnancies resulted in a live birth. Examples of
findings from other states' PRAMS data have been used to:
·
Enhance and expand
the understanding of maternal behaviors and experiences, and their relationship to
unfavorable pregnancy outcomes;
·
Develop and
implement new maternal and child health programs, as well as evaluate and modify existing
programs;
·
Influence public
health policy;
·
Assist health
professionals to incorporate the latest research findings into their standards of
practice;
·
Monitor progress on
local, state and national health objectives and goals.
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For more information, contact:
Brenda Coufal
PRAMS Project Coordinator
Phone: (402) 471-9044
Fax: (402) 471-7049
E-mail: brenda.coufal@nebraska.gov
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