Pregnant women’s knowledge of Tetanus disease and immunization against Tetanus disease in the City of Baghdad

Abstract

Objective: To estimate the understanding of tetanus and tetanus toxoid injections among pregnant women.Method: The cross-sectional study was conducted at the Baghdad General Hospital and a primary healthcare centrein Bab-Almuadham, Iraq, from November 15, 2020, to January 15, 2021, and comprised 100 pregnant women aged15-45 years. Data was gathered through face-to-face structured interviews using a complete self-assessmentquestionnaire. Data was analysed using SPSS 27.Results: Of the 100 women with mean age of 28.4±10.6 years (range: 15-44 years), 27(27%) were aged 20-24 years,70(70%) were from the urban areas, 40(40%) had primary education, 69(69%) were housewives, and 85(85%) had hadfull or partial tetanus toxoid vaccine doses. With respect to knowledge about tetanus disease, 60(60%) subjectsanswered correctly that tetanus is a serious disease, 52(52%) knew that tetanus infection could also kill the foetus,and 30(30%) recognised that tetanus produces significant side effects. Besides, 80(80%) women considered the vaccinea necessity, and the most common source of information about tetanus vaccination was the health authorities 76(76%).Conclusion: The pregnant women studied were found to have an acceptable level of knowledge about tetanus andtetanus toxoid immunisation.Keywords: Pregnancy, Tetanus, Clostridium tetani, Asymptomatic infections, Tetanus toxoid, Nervous system,Demography, Uterus, Foetus