What to know
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) questionnaire has two parts. Core questions are asked by all sites. The remaining questions are chosen from a pretested list of standard questions developed by CDC or by sites on their own.
PRAMS Questionnaire
The core portion of the questionnaire includes questions about the following:
- Attitudes and feelings about the most recent pregnancy.
- Preconception care.
- Content of prenatal care.
- Medicaid and WIC participation.
- Breastfeeding.
- Cigarette smoking and alcohol use.
- Health insurance coverage.
- Physical abuse.
- Infant health care.
- Contraceptive use.
PRAMS uses a mixed-mode methodology. Two types of questionnaires were used for Phase 1-8 data collection. The paper self-administered questionnaire is used with the mail mode. An interviewer-administered questionnaire is used with the telephone mode. Both types of questionnaires have the same questions; however, some questions have been formatted differently to aid in the interview mode.
Starting with Phase 9 data collection in 2023, a third mode of data collection is now available via a web survey module. The web survey module uses the same question format as the paper self-administered questionnaire.
The PRAMS questionnaire is available in English and in Spanish.
Current Questionnaire
The PRAMS questionnaire is revised periodically. With each revision or new phase of the questionnaire, some of the questions change. Although most indicators can be compared across phases, it is often easiest to analyze data within a single phase. The years of available data covered by the different phases are listed below:
Phase 9 (2023–Present)
Phase 9 English Core Questions
Phase 9 English Topic Reference
Phase 9 Spanish Core Questions
Questionnaire Supplements
Between questionnaire phases, interested sites may develop short question supplements to add to the end of the regular PRAMS survey. Site use these supplements for a short period of time for data collection on topics of emerging concern.
Social Determinants of Health, 2022
COVID-19 Vaccine, 2021
Maternal COVID-19 Experiences, 2020
Disability, 2019-2020
Opioid Call-Back Survey, 2019-2020
Prescription Opioid Use, 2019
Marijuana and Prescription Drug Use, 2017
Zika Supplement Questionnaire, 2016–2017
History of Breast and Ovarian Cancer, 2016–2020
E-cigarette Use, 2015
H1N1 Influenza and Seasonal Flu, 2009
Previous Questionnaires
The documents below are core and standard question lists and topic reference documents for previous questionnaire phases.
History of the PRAMS Questionnaire
The original PRAMS questionnaire was developed in 1987. Beginning with the Phase 3 questionnaire, CDC coordinated the development and testing of a number of standard questions with significant input from sites and other researchers. For every subsequent phase, an extensive list of topics is identified and researched for the questionnaire. The Phase and relevant years of data collection are listed below.
Phase 1 Pilot: 1988–1989
Phase 2: 1990–1995
Phase 3: 1996–1999
Phase 4: 2000–2003
Phase 5: 2004–2008
Phase 6: 2009–2011
Phase 7: 2012–2015
Phase 8: 2016–2022
Phase 9: 2023–present