Prevalence of Selected Maternal Behaviors and Experiences, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 1999

• Published in: MMWR. Surveillance summaries 2002-04, Vol.51 (SS-2), p.1-27
• Main Authors: Beck, Laurie F., Morrow, Brian, Lipscomb, Leslie E., Johnson, Christopher H., Gaffield, Mary E., Rogers, Mary, Gilbert, Brenda Colley
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Birth weight; Breast Feeding - statistics & numerical data; Female; Health Behavior; Hispanics; Humans; Infant; Infant Care - statistics & numerical data; Infants; Maternal Behavior; Medicaid; Mothers; Population Surveillance; Pregnancy; Pregnancy - statistics & numerical data; Prenatal care; Prenatal Care - statistics & numerical data; Prevalence; Risk analysis; Risk Assessment; Smoking - epidemiology; Socioeconomic Factors; Spouse Abuse - statistics & numerical data; Surveillance; United States - epidemiology; White people
• ISSN: 1546-0738; 1545-8636

Problem/Condition: Various maternal behaviors and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy (e.g., unintended pregnancy, late entry into prenatal care, cigarette smoking, not breast-feeding) are associated with adverse health outcomes for both the mother and the infant. Information regarding maternal behaviors and experiences is needed to monitor trends, to enhance the understanding of the relations between behaviors and health outcomes, to plan and evaluate programs, to direct policy decisions, and to monitor progress toward Healthy People 2000 and 2010 objectives. Reporting Period Covered: This report covers data from 1993 through 1999. Description of System: The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is an ongoing, state- and population-based surveillance system designed to monitor selected self-reported maternal behaviors and experiences that occur before, during, and after pregnancy among women who deliver a live-born infant. PRAMS employs a mixedmode data collection methodology; up to three self-administered surveys are mailed to a sample of mothers, and nonresponders are followed up with a telephone interview. Self-reported survey data are linked to selected birth certificate data and weighted for sample design, nonresponse, and noncoverage to create annual PRAMS analysis data sets. PRAMS generates statewide estimates of various perinatal health topics among women delivering a live infant. Data for 1999 from 17 states are examined. In addition, trend data are examined for 12 states that had at least 3 years of data during 1993-1999. Results: In 1999, the prevalence of unintended pregnancy resulting in a live birth ranged from 33.7% to 52% across the 17 states. During 1993-1999, only one state reported a decreasing trend in the prevalence of unintended pregnancy. Women aged