The PNSS is shutting down.

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The 2011 National Pregnancy Nutrition Surveillance System report (data tables) and graphics/maps have been published.  These are the final reporting products that we will generate for this surveillance system.   We gratefully acknowledge and thank all contributors to the PNSS.  The efforts of state, territorial and Indian Tribal Organization staff to collect data and use surveillance systems have made the national PNSS possible. 

 

The report represents over one million pregnant and postpartum women participating in the WIC Program and includes data from 27 states, 4 Indian Tribal Organizations, 1 U.S. territory and the District of Columbia.  Fluctuations in the number of contributors and records can affect trends (see attached spreadsheet of national PNSS report contributors).

 

2011 National PNSS Report Key Findings

Changes in maternal health status - concerns

·        In 2011, over half of women were overweight or obese prior to pregnancy: 26.0% of women were overweight (BMI 25.0 – 29.9) and 27.6% were obese (BMI  > 30). From 2002-2011, the prevalence of women who were overweight or obese (BMI >25.0) before pregnancy increased from 48.7% to 53.7%. Contributor-specific rates vary and are presented in Table 5D of the attached report.  Rates are highest among American Indian or Alaska Native (62.4%) and Black, Not Hispanic (59.3%) women, and steadily increase with age (40.9% of women aged 18-19 years, and 68.4% of women aged > 40 years are overweight or obese).

·        Almost half of women in the PNSS gain excess weight during pregnancy: in 2011, 48.0% of women gained excess weight. However, from 2002-2011, the prevalence of women who gained too much weight has remained flat (2002 rate=48.7%).

·        In the 2011 PNSS, 10.5% of infants were born preterm and 7.9% were low birthweight.  Rates have also remained flat over the past 10 years.

·        The most common nutritional deficiency during and after pregnancy is iron deficiency.  The prevalence of anemia during the 1^st, 2^nd and 3^rd trimesters and the postpartum period (4 + weeks after delivery) were respectively 7.3%,  11.6%, 33.8%, and 28.3%.  In the past 10 years, 3^rd trimester rates have increased slightly (31.3% in 2002, 33.8% in 2011) and postpartum rates have remained flat.

·        Nearly half of PNSS contributors submit data on prepregnancy multivitamin consumption (proxy for folic acid consumption).  These contributors report that just 19.7% of women took a multivitamin prior to pregnancy. 

Changes in maternal health status - improvements

·        The proportion of  breastfed infants in the PNSS steadily increased from 55.6% in 2002 to 70.1% in 2011.

·        12.5% of women smoked during the last 3 months of pregnancy; the rate has significantly declined in the past 10 years (2002 rate=20.5%).

·        The proportion of women accessing the WIC program early in pregnancy has increased: in 2002, 27.8% of women enrolled in WIC in their first trimester, whereas 35.8% did so in 2011.

 

2010 PNSS Summary Report

This report, which presents and interprets key findings from the 2010 National PNSS Report (data tables) was posted to our website last month at http://www.cdc.gov/pednss/pdfs/2010-PNSS-Summary-Report.pdf. This is the final summary report we will publish for this surveillance system.