Skip Global navigation and goto content

It's a New Day in Public Health.

The Florida Department of Health works to protect, promote, and improve the health of all people in Florida through integrated state, county, and community efforts.

Skip MegaMenu and goto content
Megamenu requires javascript to be enabled in your browser.

Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

PRAMS Coordinator

Florida PRAMS

The Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Florida Department of Health initiated the Pregnancy, Risk, Assessment, Monitoring, System (PRAMS)  project for the state in 1993, in response to research indicating the infant mortality rate was no longer declining as rapidly as it has been in the country. The state first survey was Phase II which was published in 1993. 

Mission 

PRAMS is design to establish and maintain state-specific, population- based surveillance of selected maternal behaviors that occurs during the pregnancy and early infancy.

What is purpose? 

 The purpose for the program and survey is to determine why some babies are born healthy and others are not.  

Who is selected?

PRAMS is a random population based surveillance survey of maternal behaviors, and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. 

How is PRAMS Data used? 

PRAMS confidential data is used to supplement state data from vital records and to develop and assess programs and policies for women and children to help reduce infant morbidity and mortality by changing maternal behaviors during pregnancy and during the child's early infancy. 

What information is collected on the survey? 

PRAMS questionnaire is completed of three parts: (1) CDC core questions (these topics include maternal pre-pregnancy status, prenatal care, source of payment for prenatal care and delivery, smoking and alcohol consumption, family planning, breast feeding & complications. (2) Standard questions available for the state to choose: Floridian standard question include Medicaid, maternal health problems, HIV testing, folic acid, co-sleeping, insurance for delivery, breastfeeding, birth control, and infectious diseases. (3) State-added questions: include depression, anxiety, socio-economic status, and post-partum care. 

  • Methodology
  • PRAMS Surveys
  • PRAMS Reports
  • Data Request
  • Resource Information

Data collection for PRAMS is the result of joint efforts between the CDC, Florida Department of Health, DOH office of Vital Statistics, DOH Bureau of Epidemiology, and the county health departments. Each year Florida samples approximately 2,200 new mothers that have given birth to a live-born infant.  From the aggregate of all births known to Florida vital statistics, a complex sampling strategy designed to draw random samples. PRAMS is primarily a mail surveillance project with telephone interviews conducted as a follow-up for non- responders. Participants are surveyed by mailed questionnaire 2-5 months after giving birth, which is followed up by telephone interview one month later if no response is received from the mailed survey. As of June 2023, Florida PRAMS initiated the email process for participants to complete the survey online. The participants are mailed a letter explaining the procedure of the survey, also providing a link to the survey, including the user ID and passcode which is unique to each participant. 

In 2014, the sampling frame was changed from the prior use of random four strata to a random three strata, which is in current use: 

Stratum 1: Black/normal birthweight

Stratum 2: Non- Black/normal birth weight

Stratum 3: Low birth weight

 

PRAMS Annual Surveillance Data Books

For 2018-2020 PRAMS data visit  FLHEALTHCHARTS

Phase VII (2012 - 2014)

Florida PRAMS 2015 Surveillance Data Book                                                                 Florida PRAMS 2014 Surveillance Data Book                                                   Florida PRAMS 2013 Surveillance Data Book                                                   Florida PRAMS 2012 Surveillance Data Book

 

 Special Reports

Special Reports from 2008-2011 on topics listed below can be requested through the PRAMS coordinator:

*Cesarean Delivery, Cigarette Smoking During Pregnancy, Infant Sleep Position, Preterm Birth, Postpartum Delivery, Pre-Pregnancy BMI & Related Maternal Health and Infant Outcome Among Mothers in Florida, Teen Pregnancy, Multivitamin and Folic Acid Consumption.

*Not all topics are reported each year.

Dataset Request

If you want to obtain a data set with which to conduct your own data analysis, please see our Data Request Guidelines

Data Analysis Report

If you want our statisticians to conduct analysis for you and provide you with the results, please send your request to:

FL PRAMS Coordinator
Florida Department of Health
4025 Esplanade Way, Bin A-24 
Tallahassee, FL, 32311
Phone: 850-558-9684
Fax: 850-414-6091                                                                                 

In your request, please explain precisely which question(s) or variable(s) are of interest and how to analyze the data (e.g. data year, age or racial/ethnic group, region, etc.).  All requests will be processed in a timely manner on a first-come, first-serve basis. Once your study is finished, please provide a courtesy copy of any articles and/or reports to the Department of Health based on the PRAMS data provided from the request.

Please note: Florida has a very broad public records law.  Most written communications to or from state officials regarding state business are public records available to the public and media upon request.  Your e-mail communications may therefore be subject to public disclosure.