Are PRAMS data available to researchers?

Yes. Researchers may access data for multiple jurisdictions by downloading the datasets from the PRAMS Automated Research File (ARF) web portal. The process is outlined below.

How to access the PRAMS ARF and other PRAMS datasets
  1. Complete and submit the PRAMS Automated Research File Data Portal Access Form.
  2. You will receive an email from sams-no-reply@cdc.gov inviting you to create a Secure Access Management System (SAMS) account on CDC’s SAMS portal after submitting a fully completed application form.
  3. Create your SAMS account following the instructions in the email.
  4. Log into SAMS using your newly created account.
  5. Access the PRAMS ARF portal from your SAMS homepage.
  6. You must consent to the PRAMS data sharing agreement to access datasets from the portal.
  7. Follow the prompts to select the datasets you wish to use and download them.
  • Please refer to section below on “Years of Data Available” for information on which sites and years are available on the ARF portal.
  • Five current or former PRAMS sites (Connecticut, Florida, North Carolina, Oklahoma, and Texas) are not participating in the PRAMS ARF portal. Researchers wanting to analyze data from these sites can contact each site separately to request access to their data. Please email the point of contact or visit the website for each of these sites for more information. (Participating PRAMS Sites)
Variables in the PRAMS Automated Research File (ARF)

The PRAMS ARF contains a standard set of variables. There are five categories of the variables provided:

  1. Birth Certificate Variables: Selected variables from the birth certificate file are included in the dataset; information on maternal and infant demographics are primarily from this source.
  2. Operational Variables: These variables come from the data collection process (e.g., mode the questionnaire was answered by mail or phone).
  3. Weighting Variables: These variables account for the PRAMS survey design and the statistical weighting of the data. These variables are needed to analyze PRAMS data using complex sample software.
  4. Questionnaire Variables: This is the information collected from the PRAMS survey.
  5. Analytic Variables: These are precalculated variables that combine different variables in the data set, often those that are restricted (e.g., body mass index [BMI] created by combining variables on maternal weight and height). 

PRAMS Automated Research File Codebooks

Additional PRAMS Datasets Available for Download

Additional files with standard, site-developed and supplement questions that PRAMS sites added to their PRAMS survey are also available for download through the PRAMS ARF portal. These files will include a unique identifier variable “ID” that can be used to link to records in the ARF. You can find more information about standard, site-developed and supplement question variables available on the PRAMS Questionnaires page. The Topic Reference Document by Phase lists all questions by topic and indicates which sites used standard and site-developed questions on these topics.

Questionnaires Available

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. Below is a list of the years of available data covered by the different phases:

Phase 8 (2016–2021)
Phase 7 (2012–2015)
Phase 6 (2009–2011)
Phase 5 (2004–2008)
Phase 4 (2000–2003)
Phase 3 (1996–1999)
Phase 2 (1990–1995)
Phase 1 (1988–1989) Pilot Phase

The PRAMS questionnaire has three parts: a core that all sites use; a bank of standardized optional questions that sites may select from; and site-developed questions that are usually used only by the site that developed them. Between questionnaire phases, some PRAMS sites used short question supplements that they appended to the end of the regular PRAMS survey.

The following documents may be useful:

Years of Data Available

PRAMS currently has a minimum overall response rate threshold policy for the release of data for each year. This threshold has changed over the years as follows:

  • 2006 and earlier: 70%
  • 2007-2011: 65%
  • 2012-2014: 60%
  • 2015-2017: 55%
  • 2018-2021: 50%

For any given year, the majority of, but not all sites meet the threshold. For this reason, the number of sites with data available may vary from year to year. The PRAMS datasets available for download will include the appropriate data from sites that met the response rate threshold for the year and that are participating in the PRAMS Automated Research File.

For more information, see Data Availability by Site and Year [XLS – 29 KB] (standard version).

Data Availability by Site and Year [XLS – 29 KB] (508-compliant version, accessible to people with disabilities)

2021 Site-Specific Response Rate Table
2021 Response Rate Table
Site Sample Size Respondents Unweighted Percent Responding Weighted Percent Responding
Alabama 1406 697 49.6 49.7
**Alaska** 1916 913 47.7 48.7
**Arizona** 1853 782 42.2 42.3
Arkansas 1722 842 48.9 52.9
Colorado 2132 1261 59.1 60.2
Connecticut 2355 1328 56.4 58.9
Delaware 1617 834 51.6 52.1
District of Columbia 954 500 52.4 54.6
**Florida** 2108 882 41.8 42.7
Georgia 1546 785 50.8 50.1
Hawaii 2548 1349 52.9 56.4
Illinois 1975 1119 56.7 56.4
**Indiana** 1920 732 38.1 45.1
**Iowa** 1528 657 43.0 44.4
Kansas 1790 1136 63.5 63.4
**Kentucky** 1558 670 43.0 45.5
Louisiana 1172 670 57.2 56.8
Maine 1578 790 50.1 50.0
**Maryland** 2160 898 41.6 44.1
Massachusetts 2501 1321 52.8 57.0
Michigan 2566 1374 53.5 57.0
Minnesota 1687 634 37.6 52.1
Mississippi 1652 886 53.6 54.4
Missouri 1671 832 49.8 50.1
Montana 2231 1169 52.4 55.1
Nebraska 2312 1226 53.0 59.4
**Nevada** 1363 499 36.6 33.6
**New Hampshire** 1362 592 43.5 42.5
New Jersey 1706 942 55.2 56.3
New Mexico 1712 1064 62.1 62.2
New York City 2182 1263 57.9 59.2
New York State 1540 868 56.4 56.8
North Dakota 1146 586 51.1 54.1
Oklahoma 2794 1460 52.3 53.0
Oregon 3501 1878 53.6 56.8
Pennsylvania 1722 934 54.2 56.1
**Rhode Island** 1951 881 45.2 45.7
**South Carolina** 1268 386 30.4 32.4
South Dakota 1716 1026 59.8 65.9
Tennessee 1162 633 54.5 54.8
**Texas** 2401 839 34.9 34.8
Utah 2394 1259 52.6 58.3
Vermont 1553 960 61.8 62.9
Virginia 1866 939 50.3 49.8
Washington 2068 1147 55.5 60.6
West Virginia 1216 604 49.7 51.0
Wisconsin 1775 764 43.0 55.8
Wyoming 946 448 47.4 54.2
Puerto Rico 1220 965 79.1 80.5
**
Does not meet 50% response rate criteria.

2020   |   2019   |   2018   |   2017   |   2016   |   2015   |   2014   |   2013   |   2012

Publication of PRAMS Analytic Results

Researchers should carefully review the terms of the data sharing agreement before submitting presentations or manuscripts using PRAMS data for publication. In particular, please note:

  • All oral or written presentations of the results of the analyses will be submitted to PRAMSProposals@cdc.gov at least 3 weeks prior to a presentation or submission to a journal.
  • Publications using PRAMS data should include the following acknowledgement:

 We thank the PRAMS Working Group, which includes the PRAMS Team, Division of Reproductive Health, CDC and the following PRAMS sites for their role in conducting PRAMS surveillance and allowing the use of their data: <insert names of PRAMS sites included in your analyses (e.g. PRAMS Alabama, PRAMS Alaska, etc.)>.

  • Notify PRAMS staff at PRAMSProposals@cdc.gov upon final publication of an article and provide citation information.

For more information about the data access process, please send an inquiry to PRAMSProposals@cdc.gov.