PRAMS
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) was started in 1987 by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). PRAMS is a survey given to birthing people asking about their experiences before, during, and after the birth of their child. PRAMS serves as a platform for parents to tell their stories, and this data is used to monitor health outcomes across the country. Learn more about Virginia PRAMS and explore key data points about pregnancy intention here. Access to more data about reproductive health in Virginia here. Specific data about teen pregnancy here, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV/AIDS here.
The chart left shows trends regarding pregnancy intention in Virginia from 2014 to 2019. The survey asked, "Thinking back to just before you got pregnant with your new baby, how did you feel about becoming pregnant?" The data suggests that approximately 40% of women each year experience a pregnancy that they either wanted later, did not want, or weren’t sure if they wanted.
Many factors increase someone’s risk for unintended pregnancy, including demographics, contraceptive use, and insurance coverage. Learn more about the contraceptive use in the United States.