The South Carolina Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) Survey 2024 is part of a long-standing collaboration between the South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control (DHEC) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The project collects population-based data on maternal behaviors, experiences, and health outcomes before, during, and shortly after pregnancy. Now in its fourth year under a five-year contract, the 2024 survey continues to support public health planning and policy development aimed at improving maternal and infant health outcomes across the state. 

MDR supported the SC PRAMS Survey 2024 by administering a mixed-mode data collection strategy that included both mail and telephone follow-up. The survey instrument incorporated CDC-mandated core questions and South Carolina-specific modules addressing topics such as prenatal care, postpartum mental health, infant sleep practices, contraception, food insecurity, transportation barriers, and experiences of discrimination. The survey was administered to a stratified random sample of approximately 105 women per month who had recently delivered a live birth in South Carolina. Telephone interviews were conducted using a standardized script, and interviewers were trained to follow CDC protocols to ensure data quality and consistency. 

MDR’s responsibilities included programming and testing the survey instrument, managing sample files, training interviewers, and overseeing all aspects of data collection. MDR also handled mail preparation, data entry, and tracking, as well as phone number lookups and incentive processing. The project required 1,716 total hours of professional and field service labor, including 720 hours of interviewing and 660 hours of mail and data processing. MDR maintained detailed quality control procedures and provided monthly data collection reports, batch completion summaries, and a final cleaned dataset for analysis. The project also included a $10 diaper voucher incentive to encourage participation. 

This project stands out for its comprehensive approach to maternal and child health surveillance. The inclusion of questions on social determinants of health and adverse childhood experiences reflects a growing emphasis on understanding the broader context of maternal well-being. The SC PRAMS Survey 2024 continues to serve as a vital tool for identifying disparities, evaluating public health interventions, and guiding resource allocation to improve outcomes for mothers and babies in South Carolina.