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Public health surveillance is the ongoing systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of outcome-specific data for use in public health practice. The public health approach to problem solving includes using surveillance data to identify problems and assess the effectiveness of interventions. Without accurate and timely data, public health programs suffer. (This glossary is available of commonly used terms in public health surveillance and epidemiology.)

CDC's Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) monitors maternal and infant mortality, the most serious reproductive health complications. In addition, attention is focused on gathering data to better understand the extent of maternal and infant morbidity, adverse behaviors during pregnancy, and long term consequences of pregnancy.

The major surveillance systems in the Division include the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), the National ART Surveillance System (NASS), and the Pregnancy Mortality Surveillance System (PMSS). Reports are generated from these systems on a routine ongoing basis. DRH also monitors teen pregnancy and the number and characteristics of women obtaining legal induced abortions in the United States. Point-in-time surveys are conducted to assess reproductive health in developing countries. DRH researchers sometimes analyze secondary data on such topics as ectopic pregnancy and hysterectomy.

Data and Statistics Reference Links

CPONDER
A Web-based analysis system providing state-level prevalence and trend data on maternal and infant health indicators from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS).

Data.gov
Data.gov increases the ability of the public to easily find, download, and use datasets that are generated and held by the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets.

CDC WONDER
Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research—an easy-to-use, menu-driven system that makes the information resources of the CDC available to public health professionals and the public at large.

WISQARS (Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System)
This is an interactive database system that provides customized reports of injury-related data.

BRFSS
By the early 1980s, scientific research clearly showed that personal health behaviors played a major role in premature morbidity and mortality. Although national estimates of health risk behaviors among U.S. adult populations.

YRBSS
The YRBSS was developed in 1990 to monitor priority health risk behaviors that contribute markedly to the leading causes of death, disability, and social problems among youth and adults

PeriStats
PeriStats was developed by the March of Dimes Perinatal Data Center, PeriStats provides free access to federal, state, city, and county maternal & infant health data.

 

Abortion

Abortion Surveillance System FAQ's

Abortion Surveillance—United States, 2008
In 2008, 825,564 legal induced abortions were reported to CDC from 49 reporting areas. This represents essentially no change from the number of abortions reported in 2007. The abortion rate for 2008 was 16.0 abortions per 1,000 women aged 15–44 years. This also is unchanged from 2007. The abortion ratio was 234 abortions per 1,000 live births in 2008. This is a 1% increase from 2007. During 1999–2008, the reported abortion numbers, rates, and ratios decreased 3%, 4%, and 10%, respectively. During 1999–2008, women aged 20–29 years accounted for the majority of abortions. The majority (62.8%) of abortions in 2008 were performed at ≤8 weeks' gestation and 91.4% were performed at ≤13 weeks’ gestation;v14.6% of all abortions were medical abortions. Source: MMWR 2011;60(No. 15).

Previous MMWR Abortion Surveillance Reports
2007 | 2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000 | 1999 | 1998 | 1997 | 1996 | 1995 | 1994–1993 | 1992 | 1991 | 1990 | 1989 | 1988 | 1987–1986 | 1985–1984 | 1981 | 1980–1979

Assisted Reproductive Technology

2009 Assisted Reproductive Technology Success Rates: National Summary and Fertility Clinic Reports
The data for this national report comes from the 441 fertility clinics reporting in 2009 that provided and verified data on the outcomes of all ART cycles started at their clinics. The 146,244* ART cycles performed at these reporting clinics in 2009 resulted in 45,870 live births (deliveries of one or more living infants) and 60,190 infants. Data provided by U.S. fertility clinics that use ART to treat infertility is a rich source of information about the factors that contribute to a successful ART treatment—the delivery of a live-born infant.

*Excludes banking cycles and cycles in which a new treatment procedure was being evaluated.

2009 ART Clinic Data: Interactive Clinic Tables | Spreadsheet of Clinic Tables and Data Dictionary [XLS - 871KB] | 2009 ART Report [PDF - 12.95MB]

The ART data is also available on data.gov. This provides instant view and download of datasets generated by the Executive Branch of the Federal Government. Data.gov provides descriptions of the Federal datasets (metadata), information about how to access the datasets, and tools that leverage government datasets.

Previous ART Reports

Assisted Reproductive Technology Surveillance Summaries
2006 | 2005 | 2004 | 2003 | 2002 | 2001 | 2000

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Hysterectomy

NCHS FastStats

Fact sheet: Hysterectomy in the United States, 2000–2004
In the United States, approximately 600,000 hysterectomies are performed each year, and the procedure is the second most frequently performed major surgical procedure among reproductive-aged women.

 

Infant Health

QuickStats: Percentage of Births That Were Home Births, by Maternal Race/Ethnicity —United States, 1990–2009
Source: MMWR 2012;61(03):58.

Births: Final Data for 2009 [PDF - 1.3 MB]
Comprehensive report on births and maternal health based on 100% of birth certificates reported in all 50 states, DC and U.S. territories.

Preterm Births—United States, 2007
Source: MMWR 2011;60(01):78–79.

QuickStats: Infant Mortality Rates, by Mother's Place of Birth and Race/Ethnicity—United States, 2007 Source: MMWR 2011;60(26):891.

NCHS Data Brief: Born a Bit Too Early: Recent Trends in Late Preterm Births
According to this report from CDC's National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), the percentage of babies born preterm in the U.S. has increased by more than 20 percent between 1990 and 2006. Most of this increase was among babies born toward the end of the preterm period, at 34 to 36 full weeks of pregnancy, or during the period known as “late preterm.”  

 

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International Reproductive Health Surveys

Reproductive health surveys collect data on maternal and infant health in developing countries.

 

Maternal Health and Pregnancy

Seasonal Influenza and 2009 H1N1 Influenza Vaccination Coverage Among Pregnant Women—10 States, 2009–2010 Influenza Season. Source: MMWR 2010;59(47):1541–1545.

Receipt of Influenza Vaccine During Pregnancy Among Women With Live Births—Georgia and Rhode Island, 2004–2007 Pregnant women are at increased risk for complications from influenza. Since 2004, the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) and American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) Committee on Obstetric Practice have recommended that all pregnant women be vaccinated with the trivalent inactivated vaccine during any trimester of pregnancy. Source: MMWR 2009; 58(35):972–975.

Preconception and Interconception Health Status of Women Who Recently Gave Birth to a Live-Born Infant—Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 26 Reporting Areas, 2004 Source: MMWR 2007;56(SS10):1–35.

QuickStats: Percentage of All Live Births by Cesarean Delivery—National Vital Statistics System, United States, 2005 Source: MMWR 2007;56(15):373.3

Highlights of Trends in Pregnancies and Pregnancy Rates by Outcome: Estimates for the United States, 1976–1996 [PDF - 348KB]
A report from the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks the effects of changes in sexual activity, marriage patterns, contraceptive use, attitudes and economic and educational opportunities on pregnancies, and pregnancy rates. Source: National Vital Statistics Reports 2000;47(29):12.

 

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Tobacco Use and Pregnancy

Trends in Smoking Before, During, and After Pregnancy —Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 31 Sites, 2000–2005
For 16 sites for which data were available for the entire 6-year study period, the prevalence of smoking before pregnancy remained unchanged, with approximately one in five women (from 22.3% in 2000 to 21.5% in 2005) reporting smoking before pregnancy. The prevalence of smoking during pregnancy declined from 15.2% in 2000 to 13.8% in 2005, and the prevalence of smoking after delivery declined from 18.1% in 2000 to 16.4% in 2005. Source: MMWR 2009;58(SS04):1–29.

Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses —United States, 2000–2004.
During 2000–2004, smoking resulted in an estimated annual average of 269,655 deaths among males and 173,940 deaths among females in the United States. Smoking during pregnancy resulted in an estimated 776 infant deaths annually during 2000—2004. Source: MMWR 2008;57(45):1226–1228.

Smoking Prevalence Among Women of Reproductive Age—United States, 2006.
CDC analyzed state-specific prevalence of smoking and attempts to quit among women of reproductive age, using 2006 data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Median state prevalence of current smoking was 22.4% (range: 5.8% [U.S. Virgin Islands]—34.7% [Kentucky]). Source: MMWR 2008;57(31):849–852.

Monitoring Progress Toward Achieving Maternal and Infant Healthy People 2010 Objectives—19 States, Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), 2000–2003
In 2003, all 19 states achieved or exceeded the HP 2010 objective for smoking cessation during pregnancy, and 16 states achieved the HP 2010 objective for abstinence from alcohol during the last 3 months of pregnancy.  Source: MMWR 2006;55(SS09):1–11.

Annual Smoking-Attributable Mortality, Years of Potential Life Lost, and Productivity Losses
United States, 1997–2001
Smoking during pregnancy resulted in an estimated 910 infant deaths annually during 1997–2001. Source: MMWR 2005; 54(25):625–628.

Smoking During Pregnancy—United States, 1990–2002
In 2002, smoking during pregnancy was reported by 11.4% of all women giving birth in the United States, a decrease of 38% from 1990, when 18.4% reported smoking. From 1990 to 2002, all 44 states (and DC) with comparable data for the entire observation period reported significant declines in maternal smoking. Source: MMWR 2004;53(39):911–915.

State Estimates of Neonatal Health-Care Costs Associated with Maternal Smoking—United States, 1996
This report summarizes the results of an analysis, which estimated smoking-attributable neonatal expenditures (SAEs) of $366 million in the United States in 1996, or $704 per maternal smoker, and indicated wide variations in SAEs among states. These costs are preventable. States can use these data to justify or support their prevention and cessation treatment strategies. Source: MMWR 2004;53(39):915–917.

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Teen Pregnancy

Teenagers in the United States: Sexual Activity, Contraceptive Use, and Childbearing, 2002. [PDF - 710 KB] Series No. 23, Volume 24.

Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990–2005: An Update (10/2009) [PDF – 1 MB] Source: National Vital Statistics Report 2009;58(4). 

Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance—United States 2007
Source: MMWR 2008;57(SS-4):1–131.

Contraceptive use and Pregnancy Risk among US High School Students, 1991–2003 Source: Guttmacher Institute Perspectives of Sexual and Reproductive Health 2006;8(2):106–111.

Trends in HIV- and STD-Related Risk Behaviors Among High School Students United States, 1991–2007 Source: MMWR 57(30).

National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy: State Data
National and state information, including data on teens and young adults, trend data, demographic data, and unplanned pregnancy and birth data.

QuickStats: Pregnancy, Birth, and Abortion Rates for Teenagers Aged 15–17 Years—United States, 1976–2003 Source: MMWR 2005;54(4).

QuickStats:Percentage of Never-Married Teens Aged 15–19 Years Who Reported Ever Having Sexual Intercourse, by Sex and by Age Group United States, 1995 and 2002
Source: MMWR 2005;54(30):751.

Recent Trends in Teenage Pregnancy in the United States, 1990–2002 Health E-Stats. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. Release December 2006.

Births to Youngest Teens at Lowest Levels in Almost 60 Years
The birth rate among young adolescents aged 10–14 years has fallen to the lowest levels since 1946 according to CDC’s report, Births to 10 to 14 Year-Old Mothers, 1990–2002: Trends and Health Outcomes.

Teenage births in the United States: State trends, 1991–2000 [PDF - 292KB]
This report provides state-specific birth rates for teenagers for 1991 and 2000 and the percent change, 1991–2000.

 

Unintended Pregnancy

Fertility, Family Planning, and Reproductive Health of U.S. Women: Data From the 2002 National Survey of Family Growth [PDF - 4.8MB] National Vital Statistics System.

Use of Contraception and Use of Family Planning Services in the United States: 1982–2002. [PDF - 1.5 MB] Advance Data No. 350.

Estimated Pregnancy Rates for the United States, 1990–2005: An Update (10/2009) [PDF – 1 MB] Source: National Vital Statistics Report 2009;58(4). 

Disparities in Rates of Unintended Pregnancy in the United States, 1994 and 2001 [PDF - 507KB] Source: Perspectives on Sexual Reproductive Health 2006;38:90–96. 

Contraceptive Use—United States and Territories, Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, 2002
In the United States, approximately half of all pregnancies are unintended. Contraceptive use is an important determinant of such pregnancies. To characterize contraceptive use in the United States and its territories, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), for the first time, asked both men and women about their birth-control use for the prevention of pregnancy during 2002. Source: MMWR 2005;54(SS06):1–72.

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Women's Reproductive Health

Women’s Health USA 2008
This data book was developed by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to provide readers with an easy-to-use collection of current and historical data on some of the most pressing health challenges facing women, their families, and their communities. Women’s Health USA 2008 is intended to be a concise reference for policymakers and program managers at the Federal, State, and local levels to identify and clarify issues affecting the health of women.

Preconception and Interconception Health Status of Women Who Recently Gave Birth to a Live-Born Infant—Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), United States, 26 Reporting Areas, 2004 Source: MMWR 2007;56(SS10):1–35.

QuickStats: Annual Rate of Visits to Office-Based Physicians and Hospital Outpatient Departments During Which Combination Estrogen-Progestin Hormone Therapy Was Prescribed for Women Aged >40 years, by Age Group—United States, 2001–2003
Source: MMWR 2006,55(38):1047.

Women's Health and Mortality Chartbook [PDF - 14.46MB]
Developed by NCHS with support from the Office on Women's Health, this chartbook describes the health of people in each State by sex, race, and age by reporting current data on critical issues of relevance to women.

 
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