Major Milestones

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2022
  • CDC, in partnership with HHS Office of Minority Health and CDC Foundation, with support from Merck for Mothers, released a new segment of the Hear Her campaign featuring culturally appropriate resources for American Indian and Alaska Native communities.
  • Launched the Data Roadmap for Racial Equity Advancement in Maternal & Child Health Learning Community (DREAM-LC). The DREAM-LCprovides best practices for health equity within MCH programs through data collection, analysis, interpretation and dissemination.
  • Saw continued programmatic growth in the Enhancing Reviews and Surveillance to Eliminate Maternal Mortality (ERASE MM) Program, supporting 39 jurisdictions; and also had a major expansion of the PQC program supporting 27 statewide Perinatal Quality Collaboratives, covering 74% of US births and the National Network of Perinatal Quality Collaboratives.
  • State Strategies for Preventing Pregnancy-Related Deaths: A Guide for Moving Maternal Mortality Review Committee Data to Action was published to help facilitate implementation of data-informed strategies to prevent pregnancy-related deaths.
  • PRAMS launched Social Determinants of Health supplement for 2022 births in 22 sites, 19 of which were funded.
2021
2020
  • Launched the Women’s Health Needs Study (WHNS). It is the first U.S. multi-site study to document women’s experience of Female Genital Mutilation/Cutting in the context of reproductive health.
  • Led the analysis of the first MMWR report that identified pregnancy as a risk factor for severe COVID-19 illness.
  • 10th Anniversary of the U.S. Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use (U.S. MEC) recommendations for the use of specific contraceptive methods by women and men who have certain characteristics or medical conditions.
  • Vital Signs MMWR report on Opioid use during pregnancy using PRAMS data.
  • All Maternal Mortality Review Committees (MMRCs) hosting Maternal Mortality Review Information Application (MMRIA, or “Maria”) data at CDC for analytic use within their own jurisdiction and for aggregate national reporting by CDC.
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2019
2018
2017
2016
2015
2014
2013
2012
  • DRH completed an 8-year project to improve maternal and infant health services and reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity at Rabia Balkhi Women’s Hospital in Kabul, Afghanistan.
  • Seven states successfully conclude the Sudden Unexpected Infant Death Case Registry pilot program. The project will continue.
2011
2010
  • PRAMS expands to now include 37 states, New York City, and South Dakota (Yankton Sioux Tribe).
  • DRH, in collaboration with the Division of Adolescent and School Health (DASH) and university partners, publishes a special supplement on importance of Positive Youth Development (PYD) for adolescent reproductive health outcomes.
  • First United States Guidelines on Medical Eligibility Criteria for Contraceptive Use are published.
  • Global Health Initiative leads to expansion of global activities related to global maternal mortality reduction.
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2009
  • Pandemic H1N1 Influenza Maternal Health Team was formed.
  • CDC, as an outreach partner, participates in development of content for text4baby.
  • 11 MCH epidemiologists and 10 MCH fellows sponsored by the MCHEP have been assigned to 19 public health agencies.
2008
2007
  • Expert panel consultation: Youth development as a strategy to promote adolescent reproductive health.
2006
2005
  • Promoting Science-Based Approaches to Prevent Teen Pregnancy, HIV and STDs 5- year program initiative is launched.
  • Partnership on the first international effort to eliminate obstetric fistula.
2004
2003
  • Online Interactive Atlas of Reproductive Health is launched.
  • DRH begins working in Afghanistan to reduce maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.
  • Initiated a national strategy to examine and prevent prematurity in the United States.
2002
  • The Women’s CARE study concludes that oral contraceptive use is not associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer.
2001
  • First National Summit on Safe Motherhood is held.
2000
  • Children’s Health Act of 2000, which established Safe Motherhood.
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1998
  • Reproductive Health for Refugees initiative.
1997
1996
1995
1994
  • Monograph—From Data to Action: CDC’s Public Health Surveillance for Women, Infants and Children is published.
1992
1991
  • Project CARES (Comprehensive AIDS and Reproductive Health Education Study) is implemented.
1990
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1988
  • Initiated ongoing assistance to American Indians/Alaska Natives with first BRFSS/MCH surveys of American Indian populations.
1987
1986
  • The Cancer and Steroid Hormones Study concludes that the birth control pill does not cause cancer and actually decreases the risk for certain kinds of cancer.
  • Surveillance of maternal mortality is initiated.
  • Initiated a national strategy to examine and prevent prematurity in the United States.
  • Maternal and Child Health Epidemiology (MCH EPI) is established.
1984
  • Surveillance of infant mortality.
1983
  • Family Planning Methods and Practice: Africa is published.
1982
  • DRH investigates the relationship between cancer and the use of oral contraceptives.
  • World Health Organization (WHO) designates DRH as a Collaborating Center in Perinatal Mortality and in Family Planning.
1981
  • Global survey of sterilization deaths.
  • The Family Planning Evaluation Division was renamed the Division of Reproductive Health.
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1978
  • The Collaborative Review of Sterilization (CREST) begins; the Division of Reproductive Health (DRH) investigates the safety and efficacy of sterilization procedures in the United States.
1975
  • First international contraceptive prevalence survey.
1974
  • Intrauterine device morbidity and mortality study.
  • First international forecasting and logistics assistance.
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1969
1968
  • Computerized patient records system for family planning evaluation is developed.
1967
  • First domestic household-based family planning survey of reproductive aged women (Atlanta, Georgia).
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