Knowledge and Willingness toward Vaccination among Pregnant Women: Comparison between Pertussis and Influenza

Factors associated with pregnant women's willingness to receive maternal pertussis vaccination in Guizhou Province, China: An exploratory cross-sectional study

The rise in pertussis incidence among infants in Guizhou, China underscores the need for maternal acellular pertussis vaccine (aP) immunization, a key strategy in protecting infants from severe health consequences. However, the willingness of pregnant women in Guizhou to receive this vaccine is not well-understood. This study aimed to explore pregnant women's intentions toward maternal pertussis vaccination in Guizhou and identify the associated factors. A questionnaire based on the health belief model, was administered in an exploratory cross-sectional study from January to February 2022. Data from 564 participants were collected and analyzed. The chi-square test, Mann-Whitney U test, and Poisson regression were used to identify potential factors associated with vaccination intentions. Participants' median age was 27 y (interquartile range (IQR): 24-31), and the median number of children per participant was one. The study found that only 36.0% of the participants intended to receive the aP vaccine while 64.0% were uncertain or negative in this regard. Significant factors associated with intentions to vaccinate included perceived barriers and cues for action and perceived benefits. The major barriers for low vaccination intentions were safety concerns for both the fetus and the mother, and family members' negative attitudes. Free vaccines, perceiving preventive benefits, observing other pregnant women getting vaccinated, and healthcare provider recommendations may facilitate vaccination intentions. Multiple immune strategies should be developed or optimized to cope with the resurgence of pertussis.

Awareness and Acceptance of Pertussis Vaccination Among Pregnant Women in Taif Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background and aim Pertussis risk increases during pregnancy when it can be passed from an infected, non-vaccinated mother to the newborn. The pertussis vaccine, Boostrix (Tdap: tetanus, diphtheria, and pertussis), was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for immunization of pregnant women during the third trimester. The current cross-sectional study aimed to assess the awareness level of pregnant women towards pertussis. Methods The study recruited 401 pregnant women from the Taif region through an interview questionnaire, which included different questions about the socio-demographic and clinical circumstances of the participants, as well as some variable parameters, to evaluate their awareness and acceptance of the pertussis vaccination. Results The statistical analysis of the data revealed that most participants were above 30 years of age (68.1%), urban (84.5%), highly educated (57.4%), and unemployed housewives (73.1%). Medical history showed that only 15 (3.7%) of participants had the vaccine during previous pregnancies. Analysis of the data showed a significant difference of limited awareness about the disease prognosis, infection, route of transmission, and vaccination (P<0.05). This was significant among the following participants: those in the age group >30 years, without a college degree, unemployed, in the third trimester of gestation, and with a medical history of pregnancy-related diseases. Furthermore, most participants at all educational levels didn't significantly believe in the safety of the vaccine during pregnancy (P<0.05). Interestingly, most women who were without a college degree, unemployed, or not receiving a regular salary didn't intend to vaccinate their babies and neglected to obtain sufficient information about the vaccine or its side effects (P<0.05). The regression analysis revealed that women's age and education level were significant predictors of their total awareness score about the disease and its vaccination. Conclusion So, in conclusion, the study revealed that pregnant women's awareness of pertussis disease and its vaccine in the Taif region was associated with several demographic and clinical characteristics. Their acceptance of vaccination in relation to its safety or costs during pregnancy or to their infants depended significantly on their educational level and employment status. Therefore, the study recommends conducting more awareness campaigns about pertussis and its available vaccine. Also, more cross-sectional studies are required to measure the awareness of all women throughout the country.

A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

(1) Background: Immunization of pregnant women (PWs) against Bordetella pertussis infection is still a challenging health matter. (2) Methods: We gathered questionnaire data from 180 PWs regarding their expectancies and current opinion on infectious disease prevention. For the group of PWs who agreed to further investigations, the serum levels of Ig G anti-B. pertussis antibodies (IgG-PT) titer were measured and analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 180 PWs completed the questionnaire and 98 (54.44%, study group) accepted to perform the laboratory tests. During the first two pregnancy trimesters, PWs were found to be more willing (compared with the control group) to test for identifying high-risk situations that could affect themselves and their future infant (p < 0.001). Most of the participating PWs (91, 91.9%) had low levels of anti-pertussis antibodies (values < 40 IU/mL). Declared vaccine coverage of the PWs newborn infants for DTaP-1 and Prevenar 13 (at 2 months) and DTaP-2 and Prevenar 13 (at 4 months) vaccination reached 100% in the study group, while in the control group only 30/82 (36.59%) PWs accepted to be vaccinated during pregnancy, none of them providing data on their infants’ vaccine coverage. (4) Conclusions: Enrolled PWs faced a waning immunity against the B. pertussis infection. By raising maternal confidence in the protective role of vaccines against infectious diseases, better vaccine acceptance and better infant vaccine coverage can be achieved.