Characterizing the vaccine knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and intentions of pregnant women in Georgia and Colorado

ABSTRACT

Vaccine coverage for maternal vaccines is suboptimal; only about half of pregnant women received influenza and Tdap vaccines in 2018. We explored knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, intentions, and trust regarding maternal and infant vaccines among pregnant women. Between June 2017 and July 2018, we surveyed 2196 pregnant women recruited from geographically and socio-demographically diverse prenatal care practices in Georgia and Colorado (56% response rate). Fifty-six percent of pregnant women intended to receive both influenza and Tdap vaccines during pregnancy and 68% intended to vaccinate their baby with all recommended vaccines on time. Attitudinal constructs associated with intention to vaccinate include confidence in vaccine safety (ORs: 16–38) and efficacy (ORs: 4–19), perceived risk of vaccine-preventable diseases (ORs: 2–6), social norms (ORs: 4–10), and trust in sources of vaccine information. Women pregnant with their first child were less likely than women who had prior children to intend to vaccinate themselves and their children, more likely to be unsure about their intentions to receive both maternal and infant vaccines, and less likely to report feeling they had enough knowledge or information about vaccines and vaccine safety (p < .01). This demonstrates an opportunity for vaccine education to increase vaccine confidence and informed decision-making, especially among first-time pregnant women.

KEYWORDS:

• vaccines
• pregnancy
• maternal and child health
• cocooning
• app
• referral
• education
• social network

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank everyone who contributed to survey design and/or participant recruitment in this study. We would also like to thank Tina Proveaux for her support in the editing and submission of this manuscript.

Disclosure of potential conflicts of interest

R Limaye, S Omer, S O’Leary, M Ellingson, C Spina, S Brewer, R Bednarczyk, F Malik, P Frew have no conflicts and report no financial disclosures. M Dudley received some support from Walgreens. A Chamberlain received paid consultancy with the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists regarding provider-to-patient communications. D Salmon received consulting and/or research support from Merck, Walgreens, and Pfizer.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Institutes of Health [grant number R01AI110482]. The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, or interpretation of the data; or preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript.