Understanding the Knowledge, Attitudes, Awareness, and Factors Influencing the Uptake of the Influenza Vaccine Among Pregnant Women

The current cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, awareness, facilitators, and barriers linked to the uptake of influenza vaccination during pregnancy in the urban area.

The study recruited 500 participants: 62 pregnant women and 438 postpartum attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary-care municipal hospital. The study-questionnaire obtained data regarding socio-demographics general knowledge about influenza, attitude towards influenza vaccination, vaccine risk awareness, and its potential risk and benefits during pregnancy. The parameters related to influenza vaccination were investigated using log-binomial regression models.

The outcome of the study revealed:

• A significant proportion of participants (223 out of 500, or 44.6%) received the influenza vaccine during their current pregnancy. 
• However, only 2.7% of participants reported being vaccinated during their previous pregnancies. 
• Additionally, there was a notable lack of awareness regarding the safety of the seasonal influenza vaccine during pregnancy, with only 19% (n=95 out of 500) of participants indicating they were informed.
• Furthermore, 11.2% (n=31 out of 277) of study participants expressed opposition to maternal influenza vaccination. 
• Women who received the influenza vaccine were more likely to have been informed about the recommendations for maternal vaccination by healthcare providers, with an odds ratio of 0.18.

Thus, the study concluded that key reasons for non-vaccination included the provision of incomplete information or a lack of awareness about influenza vaccination, which accounted for 68.6% of cases. Pregnant women exhibited limited knowledge regarding the safety of maternal influenza vaccines. Recommendations from healthcare professionals played a crucial role in influencing the decision-making of pregnant women regarding influenza vaccination during pregnancy.

Source: Shaikh H, Undale V, Pardeshi A, Jadhav S, Jagtap P, Aphale P, Kawade A, Asalkar M, Agampodi S, Upaganlawar A, Upasani C, Knowledge, attitudes, awareness and factors associated with the uptake of influenza vaccine among pregnant women in urban Pune. Indian J Obstet Gynecol Res. 2024;11(3):457-464.