# A [Core] - Nebraska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)

> **NIH ALLCDC U01** · NEBRASKA ST DEPT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVS · 2020 · $171,323

## Abstract

Project Summary
Nebraska (NE) PRAMS has provided quality and comprehensive data on maternal and
child health risks and behaviors since 1999, and has become a major participant in the
state's strengthened public health system. PRAMS complements the vital records
database adding nuances that only self-reported data can do. On the surface,
Nebraska appears to have very good pregnancy outcomes. However, the large
percentage (77.5%) of White births drives state averages, and masks considerable
disparity when outcomes are examined by maternal race and ethnicity. The Lifespan
Health Services Unit (LHSU) is home not only to MCH Epidemiology and NE PRAMS,
but also to the rest of the MCH-related programs. These programs have been among
the strongest supporters of PRAMS and users of the data; being housed in the same
unit makes PRAMS data and staff easily accessible to those programs. This has
resulted in PRAMS data being integrated into the official MCH and the Reproductive
Health priorities. The state's birth certificate data provides valuable information on
women during their pregnancy and delivery and on the newborn. However, these data
predominantly address demographic and medical conditions. High-quality, Nebraska-
specific, population-level data are scarce on key factors such as behavioral risks, and
mothers' experiences with and perceptions of healthcare. Thus, the birth certificate
registry is limited in its ability to provide detailed information for program planning and
evaluation. Birth certificate data are complemented for some populations by data
available from specific programs. However, these data do not reflect the state as a
whole. NE PRAMS is currently the only readily-accessible source for population-level
data on important issues such as pregnancy intendedness, reasons for patterns of
prenatal care use, nutritional status of the mother, preconception health, and for
postnatal behaviors such as depression, infant sleep position, breastfeeding or maternal
morbidity. Importantly, PRAMS data allow valid statements to be made about “new
Nebraska mothers” rather than only for selected populations or program recipients. NE
PRAMS stratifies by race/ethnicity and will continue to provide data to plan strategies to
address these issues and for evaluation.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 9929502
- **Project number:** 5U01DP006209-05
- **Recipient organization:** NEBRASKA ST DEPT OF HEALTH & HUMAN SERVS
- **Principal Investigator:** JENNIFER SEVERE-OFORAH
- **Activity code:** U01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** ALLCDC
- **Fiscal year:** 2020
- **Award amount:** $171,323
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2016-05-01 → 2021-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/9929502

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 9929502, A [Core] - Nebraska Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) (5U01DP006209-05). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/9929502. Licensed CC0.

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