Maternal child health data systems
The Center for Health and Environmental Data (CHED) strives to provide timely, innovative, and high-quality public health data to improve the health of Coloradans. The maternal and child health population is a major population of focus in the state and is represented in various data systems. CHED collects, analyzes, and disseminates data for three population-based surveillance systems:
- Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)
- Baby & You Survey
- Health eMoms
CHED also synthesizes data from other maternal and child health data systems housed at CDPHE, other state agencies, federal public health agencies, and public health partners.
- Developmental Screening to Referral Annual Snapshot
Maternal and child health data from these surveillance systems and dashboards are shared widely to inform public health program planning and evaluation, service provision, funding opportunities, policy development, academic research, and more.
Learn more about these programs and explore the data below.
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS)is a surveillance system designed to identify and monitor behaviors and experiences of women before, during, and after pregnancy. Information is collected by surveying a sample of women who have recently given birth.
PRAMS uses a combination of data collection approaches: we contact sampled mothers by mail and follow up by telephone with an online option. Survey responses are linked with the birth certificate data to provide key demographic and clinical information.
Findings from the PRAMS survey are used to develop and assess health programs in public and private health care settings.
The Baby & You Survey program collects information to guide policies and programs that advance health and health equity for those who are postpartum and their families. The surveys collect information about the perspectives and experiences of those who are postpartum at key points in time as well as over time. Participants receive a total of four surveys by email and text message over the first three years of their new baby’s life–at 3-4 months, 1 year, 2 years, and 3 years postpartum.
Health eMoms was a program from the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment that listened to real experiences from real birthing parents across Colorado to better support moms and babies. From 2018-2021, Health eMoms invited 2,400 people who were postpartum in Colorado to join the survey program and share their opinions and experiences during the first few years of their babies’ lives.
The purpose of the Developmental Screening to Referral Annual Snapshot is to tell a shared story, identify gaps and improve systems that support successful developmental screening and referral rates, positive family outcomes and increased access to supports and services.