The Influence of the Perception, Attitude and Level of Trust on the Uptake of Covid-19 Vaccinations Among Pregnant Women Attending Antenatal Care Clinic in Mbeya Urban, Tanzania

Abstract

Abstract Background: Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID–19) has been associated with negative effects and death towards people with low immunity including pregnant women. Despite, the introduction of vaccine as the proper means to curb the spread of pandemic, there is still low uptake of the vaccine. This study assessed the influence of perception, attitude and trust towards COVID-19 vaccine uptake among pregnant women attending Antenatal Care Clinics. Methods: A cross sectional study design was used, utilising quantitative approach with cross-sectional analytical design conducted in Mbeya urban, distribution of sample size during data collection based on client’s volume at three government health facilities (one tertiary health facility, one secondary health facility and one primary health facility) in Mbeya Urban, Tanzania. Data were collected from 333 pregnant women who attended ANC at the period of data collection by using questionnaire with closed ended questions which were administered to respondents through face to face. Data cleaning and data analysis was done using excel and stata/SE 14.1 software for bivariate and multivariate data; Pearson’s chi-squire and Fisher’s test was used to analyze the independent determinants of COVID-19 vaccine uptake. Results: The proportion of pregnant women vaccinated with COVID 19 vaccine was 27%. There was statistically significant association between the respondents’ vaccine uptake with college/university education and <5 work experience to vaccine uptake P=0.015 (AOR=6.58; 95% CI; 1.45-29.85), and P=0.046 (AOR=2.45; 95% CI; 1.02-5.89) respectively. The association of attitude influence to COVID-19 vaccine uptake was statistically significant (acceptance of vaccine due to its availability, vaccine acceptance for protection against COVID-19 pandemic to respondent and her baby, experience from other vaccines) was statistically significant at P=0.011 (AOR=4.43; 95% CI; 1.41-13.93), P= 0.001 (AOR=45.83; 95% CI; 18.6-112.89) respectively. The level of trust to COVID-19 vaccine influenced respondents’ association to vaccine uptake in 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy (P=0.633 (AOR=1.23; 95% CI; 0.53-2.48) respectively. Conclusion: Positive attitude and trust towards COVID-19 vaccine influenced pregnant women to uptake COVID-19 vaccines; our conclusion supports the WHO guidelines that COVID 19 vaccine should be administered to pregnant women since it is a safer means to curb COVID-19 pregnancy related complications.