Now available on Hawaii-IBIS: the 2014 PRAMS data!

The 2014 data for the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) are now available.  Use the Hawaii-IBIS data tool to explore the attitudes and experiences of women in Hawaii who have recently given birth.

Here are some highlights from the 2014 PRAMS data for Hawaii:

Almost half of pregnant women in Hawaii who received prenatal care used private insurance to cover the cost.  Affordable health care that provides maternity coverage is important to the health of both mother and child.

The rate of pregnant women in Hawaii who consumed alcohol during the third trimester of pregnancy continues to rise, from less than 5% in 2000 to almost 9% in 2014.  Alcohol exposure during pregnancy is a leading cause for developmental disabilities and birth defects in infants.

Although 69% of women that smoked before pregnancy quit by the last trimester in 2014, nearly 2 in 5 reported smoking postpartum. Smoking during pregnancy is a strong risk for preterm delivery and exposure to smoking in the early months of life raises the risks of infant death and other illness.

The burden of diabetes continues to grow with 1 in 7 women reporting gestational diabetes during their pregnancy, which puts them at increased risk of developing chronic diabetes later in life. It is further estimated that 3.6% of mothers with a recent live birth have chronic diabetes before pregnancy in 2014, which is up from 2.6% in 2012. Diabetes is a growing epidemic in the state and its prevention across the life course, including during pregnancy, can result in reduction of its associated morbidity, mortality, and health care costs.

Enrollment in WIC during pregnancy has recently declined with only 38.9% of women in 2014 compared to 45.8% in 2012. WIC (Women, Infants, and Children) provides nutritional assistance to low-income pregnant and postpartum women, and to infants and children up to age five.

To learn more about the health of Hawaii’s mothers and infants, check out our sister site, Hawaii Health Matters.  There you will also find a series of maternal and child health Quick Fact Reports for the state of Hawaii.

2013 Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System data are here!

The 2013 data for the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) is now available.  This survey is a vital source of information about the health of Hawaii’s mothers and their infants.

Here are some highlights from the 2013 PRAMS data for Hawaii:

Almost 90% of pregnant women in Hawaii are beginning prenatal care in their first trimester. This is an increase of almost 12% since 2000. Women who receive early and adequate prenatal care increase their chances of birthing a healthy baby.

Approximately 1 in 4 pregnant women in Hawaii attended a childbirth class during their pregnancy. Younger mothers were significantly less likely to attend a class. Younger, unexperienced mothers might benefit most from childbirth classes, as they provide important information about labor and delivery.

The percent of pregnant women in Hawaii who report drinking alcohol in the last trimester of their pregnancy has steadily increased from 200 to 2013. On Kauai, over 1 in 10 pregnant women reported consuming alcohol during their last trimester. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy increases the chances of birth defects, developmental disabilities, and premature birth.

To learn more about the health of Hawaii’s mothers and infants, check out our sister site, Hawaii Health Matters. Also, the PRAMS data will soon be available on our new data tool, the Hawaii Indicator-Based Information System (Hawaii-IBIS)! Hawaii-IBIS gives you the power to define your search and pinpoint the data you need. We will notify users when the PRAMS data are available on Hawaii-IBIS.

Now available! 2015 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System data!

The latest data on health-related risk behaviors, chronic health conditions, and use of preventive services among adults in Hawaii are available on the Hawaii Indicator-Based Information System (Hawaii-IBIS)!  Explore the more recent findings from the Hawaii Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) using our newest data tool.  Hawaii-IBIS gives you the power to define your search and pinpoint the data you need.

Here are some of the highlights from the 2015 BRFSS data for Hawaii:

Almost 10% of men aged 65 to 74 years reported they have coronary heart disease.  This compares to less than 4% of women in the same age range.  The difference in coronary heart disease rates between men and women grows larger with age.

Approximately 1 in every 9 (11.6%) adults in Hawaii reports they have experienced depression.  However, among Caucasian females, that rate jumps to over 1 in 6 (22.2%).  Seeking support for depression is an important step in restoring quality of life.

Honolulu County has the lowest proportion of adults who consume at least five fruits and vegetables per day (18.4%).  Among the communities of Hawaii, the North Shore and Laie have the highest rate of fruit and vegetable consumption (33.3%).  The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend eating a wide range of fruits and vegetables every day.

To learn more about the health status of Hawaii’s adult residents, explore Hawaii-IBIS and our sister-site, Hawaii Health Matters.  Be watching for additional BRFSS indicators to be added to Hawaii-IBIS in the future!