New Analysis from the 2018 Louisiana PRAMS Survey!

Check out the latest report from the Louisiana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), a population-based survey of Louisiana resident women who deliver a live-born infant in the state within a given calendar year. Since 1997, Louisiana PRAMS has provided vital information on women’s behaviors and experiences before, during, and after pregnancy. The 2018 Louisiana PRAMS Surveillance Report, a compilation of Louisiana PRAMS results for selected indicators, highlights data for births occurring in 2018.

Key findings include:

• 50% of women in Louisiana did not intend to become pregnant or were unsure if they wanted to become pregnant. 64% of the women who were not trying to get pregnant reported not doing anything to prevent a pregnancy.
• Among women who reported not using any contraceptive methods to prevent an unintended pregnancy, the most common reasons were: I didn’t mind if I got pregnant (33%); I thought I couldn’t get pregnant (28%); and I had side effects from birth control (14%).
• 91% of women reported they received prenatal care during their first trimester. 8% of mothers began prenatal care after their first trimester and about 1% of mothers reported not receiving any prenatal care during their pregnancy.
• The most commonly-reported barriers to receiving prenatal care as early as desired were: not knowing they were pregnant (46%) ,couldn’t get an appointment when desired (34%), not having money or insurance to pay (23%), and having too many other things going on (22%).
• 14% of women reported that they were currently smoking cigarettes (at the time of the survey). 8% of women reported that they smoked cigarettes during the last three months of pregnancy.
• 3% of women reported they consumed at least one alcoholic drink during the last three months of pregnancy.
• 73% of women breastfed or fed pumped milk to their new baby at least once. 69% of women reported breastfeeding for 8 weeks or more.
• 68% of women reported that their new baby is placed to sleep most often on their back.

The goal of the Louisiana Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is to reduce infant and maternal morbidity and mortality by informing maternal and child health programs and policies designed to support healthy maternal behaviors. The report is intended to guide maternal and child health resource distribution, policies, and programs – as well as educate healthcare providers and the public.

Read it now, and share it with your partners! You can also find PRAMS Data Reports in the Partners for Family Health Data Center and Report Library.