The Maine CDC conducts surveillance on the health of pregnant people and infants across the state. Primary sources for this data are birth certificates and the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).
Birth Certificates
Birth certificate data include information on all births to Maine residents. Data are obtained through self-reporting by parents and from the birthing person's medical records at time of delivery. Get information on birth records in Maine.
What is PRAMS?
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is a joint project between the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Maine Data, Research, and Vital Statistics Office. The goal of PRAMS is to help Maine become a healthier place for parents and babies. Each month, 100-130 Maine residents who recently gave birth are randomly picked from the birth certificate registry and asked to complete a confidential questionnaire. Maine was one of the first states to participate in PRAMS, and today almost all states participate.
How are PRAMS Data Used?
Data collected by PRAMS are used by public health officials, researchers, community organizations, and health care organizations to:
- Identify public health priorities
- Develop and improve health programs and policies
- Help health care professionals improve care
- Measure progress towards making Maine a healthier place for parents and infants
How Can I Help?
If you are selected to participate in PRAMS, you can help by completing the questionnaire. You will receive a small gift for participating and the information you provide will help parents and babies in Maine.
Where can I view the data?
- View the Maternal and Child Health data dashboard
- View the PRAMS data dashboard, or learn more about PRAMS.
For more information:
To obtain data not found on these dashboards, you may fill out a data request form.