Download Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women towards vaccination in

Knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women towards vaccination in childhood
Senol Sebnem*;Goker Asli,;Karakus Asli;Yanikkerem Emre; Celal Bayar University Manisa TURKEY
Objectives
Table 1 Sociodemographic data and fertility characteristics
Epidemics due to vaccine- preventable diseases have increased in
n
%
recent years. Doubts about vaccine safety and efficacy may lead to
Age
under-vaccination.
<25
194
30.6
vaccination of their children during pregnancy. Therefore, it is important
25-30
262
41.4
to asses the knowledge and attitudes of families towards vaccination
>31
177
28.0
programs which was the aim of this study.
Education status
Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at Celal Bayar
No education
39
6.2
University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Obstetrics and
Primary school
197
31.1
Gynecology. Data was collected from 633 pregnant women between
Secondary school
175
27.6
October 2013 and September 2014 through a self-reported
High school
146
23.1
questionnaire.
Univercity
76
12.0
Results: The study group consisted of women with a mean age of
Work status
Many mothers make decisions
regarding
27.6±5.4; 62,7% of whom were multigravidaes. Thirty-one percent of
499
78.8
Steady job
119
18.8
Odd jobs
15
2.4
Yes
584
92.3
No
49
7.7
Income less
99
15.7
social insurance, working in a steady job and having a previous
İncome and expense
balanced
48
75.8
pregnancy. Source of knowledge was primarily stated as family
İncome more
54
8.5
Primigravid
236
37.3
Multigravid
397
62.7
and 92,3% had a social insurance. The majority (75,8%) of the women
described their family income
equal to outcome. Sociodemographic
data and fertility characteristics are shown in Table 1. Tetanus
vaccination was significantly more common in multigravid women when
compared to primigravidae (90,4%, 78,4%; p:0,000). Knowledge about
vaccines increased significantly as age of women increased. There was a
significant relationship between knowledge about vaccines and having
physician and health workers in general.
Table 2 Relationship between sociodemographic variables and knowledge about vaccines
p value (<0,05)
Unemployed
the women had finished elementary school, 78,8% was a housewife,
Knowledge about various vaccines according to sociodemographic variables is listed in Table2. All women who had refrained from
getting thier previous child vaccinated stated their worry about side effects. Affirmation to the question «do you think vaccines have
side effects?» was mostly given to polio vaccine (14,8% (n=94). Thoughts about side effects of other vaccines are given in Graphic 1.
The majority of pregnant women (92.3%) think that adult vaccination is necessary, however 67.8% believe that childhood
vaccination has a lifelong protection capacity. Opinions about adulthood vaccination are seen in Table 3.
Health insurance
Income status
Maternity status
Do you think vaccines have side effects?
BCG
(bacille
calmetteguerin)
diphtheria
pertussis
tetanus
polio
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
meningitis
influenza vaccine
Age>35
0,007
0,023
0,000
0,749
0,003
0,030
0,217
0,000
0,125
High educational
status
0,001
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,003
0,000
Working status
0,999
0,000
0,000
0,000
0,004
0,011
0,000
0,007
0,336
Social insurance
0,990
0,000
0,000
0,053
0,390
0,385
0,649
1
0,018
High income level
0,476
0,381
0,145
0,809
0,036
0,3190
0,151
0,005
0,026
Multigravida
0,032
0,036
0,001
0,900
0,014
0,155
0,549
0,008
0,142
Table 3 Quesions about adult vaccination
Will Chilhood vaccination protect you for life?
Yes
No
Has no idea
I think adult vaccination is neccessary
n
429
181
23
%
67.8
28.6
3.6
Yes
No
Has no idea
Does adult vaccination have more adverse effects than childhood vaccination?
584
41
8
92.3
6.5
1.3
Yes
No
Has no idea
185
400
48
29.2
63.2
7.6
Conclusion: The ministry of health promotes widespread application of childhood vaccines free of charge. The rates of
vaccination are high but there are also local campaigns against childhood vaccination. Women with higher education and working
women have a significantly higher level of knowledge about vaccines. The majority of pregnant population trusts health workers
about vaccines which points out the importance of first line health facilities. Negative publicity is mostly made about influenza and
measles vaccines, however in the study side effects of these vaccines were stated as low. Tetanus vaccine is one of the safest
vaccines in pregnancy, however women perceive it as the most potentially dangerous vaccine which may be attributed to the general
anxiety state of pregnancy. Although there are defects in knowledge about adult vaccination, it is generally accepted. There is no
public spread vaccination program for adults in Turkey except for tetanus during pregnancy. Anti-vaccine groups are not wide spread
yet, there is a high utilisation rate of vaccines. Even though pregnant women are inclined to have their children vaccinated, it is the
responsibility of doctors, nurses and midwives to ensure accurate informing about vaccines.
Copyright © 2015 Sebnem Senol [email protected]