South Dakota Health Data & Statistics

The Office of Health Data & Statistics helps collect and develop data used by the Department of Health (DOH) and the public. Some of our priority data and reports include:

Behavior Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS)
This is a yearly, telephone survey administered by the South Dakota Department of Health. The survey collects data on the general health and health risks of South Dakota residents. Most questions on the survey are provided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with a few state-added questions asked only in South Dakota.

PRAMS (Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System)
The Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), is a surveillance project of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and state health departments. PRAMS collects state-specific, population-based data on maternal attitudes and experiences before, during, and shortly after pregnancy.

South Dakota Afterschool Network
Promotes afterschool programs, advocates public policy on behalf of afterschool programs, and encourages high quality in afterschool programs across South Dakota.

South Dakota Mortality Data
Mortality data and reports including the 10 leading causes of death by year and age are available from the Office of Health Data & Statistics.

South Dakota School Height and Weight
The South Dakota Department of Health and the Department of Education ask schools to submit student height and weight data for kindergarten, elementary and high school students. The voluntary program to track childhood obesity in South Dakota has been underway since 1998.

South Dakota Vital Statistics
Annually, the office reports on vital statistics including state and county comparisons of leading health indicators, births, deaths, marriage, divorce, infant mortality, and other selected records.

Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS)
This survey is conducted in partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and has been given in odd-numbered years and administered to students in grades 9th through 12th at scientifically selected high schools across the state. The survey is voluntary and anonymous. YRBS monitors six categories of health-related behaviors that contribute to the leading causes of death and disability among youth and adults, including behaviors related to unintentional injuries and violence, sexual behaviors, alcohol, and other drug use, tobacco use, unhealthy dietary behaviors, and inadequate physical activity.