Perceptions of influenza vaccination during pregnancy in Korean women of childbearing age

Figures & data

Table 1. Demographic characteristics of the study population (N = 1000).

Characteristics	Values
Age groups (years), no. (%)
25–29	150 (15.0)
30–34	568 (56.8)
35–39	228 (22.8)
40–44	54 (5.4)
Currently pregnant, no. (%)	500 (50)
Gestational age (wks), mean±SD	20.3 ± 10.5
Occupation, no. (%)
Full-time housewife	516 (51.6)
Employed	484 (48.4)
Underlying medical conditions, no. (%)
None	919 (91.9)
Diabetes mellitus	17 (1.7)
Asthma	14 (1.4)
Solid tumor	13 (1.3)
Renal disease	12 (1.2)
Systemic lupus erythematosus	11 (1.1)
Thyroid disease	11 (1.1)
Liver disease	10 (1.0)
Cardiac disease	5 (0.5)
Hematologic malignancy	4 (0.4)
Cerebrovascular disease	3 (0.3)
Other	19 (1.9)

Values are presented as median ± standard deviation, or number (%)

Table 2. Percentage of correct responses to questions regarding knowledge of influenza (N = 1000).

Questions	No. (%) of correct responses
There are annual influenza outbreaks.	856 (85.6)
When pregnant women get influenza, they are at increased risk for severe disease compared with the general population.	789 (78.9)
When pregnant women get influenza, babies are at increased risk.	784 (78.4)
Influenza vaccination can prevent severe febrile disease and serious complications.	775 (77.5)
Influenza vaccination should be considered every year.	614 (61.4)
Pregnant women are allowed to get the influenza vaccination.	607 (60.7)
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy is harmful.	577 (57.7)
Influenza refers to a severe cold.	468 (46.8)
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy benefits neonatal health.	403 (40.3)

Table 3. Previous experience with influenza vaccination and reasons for vaccination during pregnancy (N = 764).

Variables	No. (%)
Influenza vaccination during pregnancy	285 (37.3)
Reason for vaccination^a
Recommendation from healthcare providers	76 (26.7)
Recommendation from a neighbor	29 (10.2)
Media promotion (TV, newspaper and internet)	15 (5.3)
Previous experience of suffering from influenza	2 (0.7)
Perception of risk of influenza infection in pregnant women	36 (12.6)
Perception of risk of influenza infection in babies	65 (22.8)
Poor health	4 (1.4)
Belief in efficacy of the influenza vaccine	45 (15.8)
Previous influenza vaccination experience	11 (3.9)
Other	2 (0.7)
Influenza non-vaccination during pregnancy	479 (62.7)
Reason for non-vaccination^a
Lack of recommendation from healthcare providers	62 (12.9)
Dissuasion by a neighbor	25 (5.2)
Not aware of the necessity of vaccination during pregnancy	46 (9.6)
Believe vaccination is not necessary during pregnancy	38 (7.9)
Lack of time	27 (5.6)
Fear of injection	11 (2.3)
Concerns about adverse reactions	48 (10.0)
Concerns about harmful effects on the fetus	142 (29.6)
Concerns about the efficacy of influenza vaccination during pregnancy	15 (3.1)
Expense	8 (1.7)
Do not normally get a flu shot, regardless of pregnancy	45 (9.6)
Other	10 (2.1)

^a The most important reason was selected by respondents.

Table 4. Future plan and reasons for receiving influenza vaccination during next pregnancy (N = 736).

Variables	No. (%)
Plan to receive influenza vaccination during future pregnancy^Footnotea	412 (56.0)
Recommendation from healthcare providers	66 (16.0)^a
Perception of risk of influenza infection in pregnant women	59 (14.3)^a
Perception of risk of influenza infection in babies	140 (34.0)^a
Belief in efficacy of influenza vaccination	81 (19.7)^a
Vaccinated during a previous pregnancy	21 (5.1)^a
Recommendation from a neighbor	3 (0.7)^a
Media promotion (TV, newspaper and internet)	7 (1.7)^a
Normally get the influenza vaccine	7 (1.7)^a
Previous experience of suffering from influenza	13 (3.2)^a
Poor health	14 (3.4)^a
Other	1 (0.2)^a
Plan not to receive influenza vaccination during future pregnancy^Footnotea	324 (44.0)
Lack of recommendation from healthcare providers	12 (3.7)^a
Lack of awareness of the necessity of vaccination during pregnancy	13 (4.0)^a
Belief that vaccination is unnecessary during pregnancy	19 (5.9)^a
Concerns about the efficacy of influenza vaccination during pregnancy	51 (15.7)^a
Concerns about harmful effects on the fetus	149 (46.0)^a
Concerns regarding adverse effects	40 (12.3)^a
Lack of time	7 (2.2)^a
Dissuasion by a neighbor	15 (4.6)^a
Fear of injection	6 (1.9)^a
Expense	3 (0.9)^a
Do not normally get a flu shot, regardless of pregnancy	10 (3.1)^a

^a The most important reason was selected by respondents

Figure 1. Change in future willingness to receive influenza vaccination after intervention regarding the risk of severe disease from influenza during pregnancy (paragraph 1), the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine (paragraph 2), the safety of the influenza vaccine (paragraph 3) and a governmental guarantee (paragraph 4). Numbers in the bars indicate the percentage of subjects in each group.

Figure 2. This study involved 3 cohorts: a cohort of 500 non-pregnant women who had given birth within the previous 2 y (cohort 1); a cohort of pregnant women who were due to give birth before October 31, 2014 (cohort 2); and a cohort of pregnant women who were due to give birth after October 31, 2014 (cohort 3). They were differentially assessed on 4 subjects using a questionnaire.