Knowledge, attitudes, awareness and factors associated with the uptake of influenza vaccine among pregnant women in urban Pune

Abstract

: This cross-sectional study was aimed to assess the knowledge, attitudes, awareness, facilitators, and barriers associated with the uptake of influenza vaccination during pregnancy in the urban area of Pune. : The study was conducted with 500 participants: 62 pregnant women and 438 postpartum women (total 524 were approached) attending Obstetrics and Gynaecology outpatient department (OPD) in a tertiary-care municipal hospital in Pune. The study-questionnaire collected data regarding socio-demographics general knowledge about influenza, attitude towards influenza vaccination, vaccine risk awareness, and its potential risk and benefits during pregnancy. The log-binomial regression models were used to examine the factors associated with influenza vaccination. : A good uptake of the vaccine (223/500, 44.6%) was found during current pregnancy of the participant; however, only 2.7% of study-participants vaccinated with influenza vaccine in their previous pregnancies. Also, there was poor awareness among all the participants regarding the safety of the seasonal influenza vaccine during pregnancy (19%, n=95/500). 11.2% (n=31/277) study-participants were found to be against the maternal influenza vaccination. Women receiving the vaccine against influenza were more likely to be previously informed of the recommendations from health-care providers about maternal influenza vaccination with odds ratio of 0.18 (95% CI, 0.04 to 0.8; p<0.00001), received the influenza vaccine in the past OR 8.27 (95% CI, 0.94 to 72.0), Z 1.09, p=0.05 and of having knowledge on influenza and its complications has more impact on influenza vaccination during pregnancy OR 14.4 (95% CI, 5.68 to 36.53), Z 5.6, p<0.0001 respectively.: This study concludes the vital causative factors for non-vaccination were provision of incomplete information or poor awareness about influenza vaccination (68.6%). There was poor knowledge among the pregnant women regarding the safety of maternal influenza vaccines. The recommendation from healthcare professionals is the major facilitators of decision-making by pregnant women for influenza vaccination during pregnancy.