Knowledge about influenza and adherence to the recommendations for influenza vaccination of pregnant women after an educational intervention in Greece

Figures & data

Table 1. Characteristics of 304 pregnant women.

Characteristic	Number of pregnant women (%)
Age, years
≤ 30	133 (43.8)
> 30	170 (55.9)
unknown	1 (0.3)
Immigrants
yes	27 (8.9)
no	276 (90.8)
unknown	1 (0.3)
Roma population
yes	3 (1)
no	301 (99)
Area of residence
Athens, Attica	249 (81.9)
other	51 (16.8)
unknown	4 (1.3)
Education level
elementary	14 (4.6)
high-school	116 (38.2)
college – university	163 (53.6)
unknown	11 (3.6)
Number of household members
< 2	129 (42.4)
≥ 2	175 (57.6)
Number of children < 5 years old
0	219 (72)
≥1	85 (28)
Underlying disease of the mother
yes^a	80 (26.3)
no	224 (73.7)
Number of parities
< 2	150 (49.3)
≥2	154 (50.7)
Gestational age, weeks
< 28	120 (39.5)
≥28	175 (57.6)
unknown	9 (3.0)
Pregnancy complications
yes^b	39 (12.8)
no	256 (84.2)
unknown	9 (3.0)
Assisted reproduction
yes	7 (2.3)
no	285 (93.8)
unknown	12 (3.9)
Scheduled cesarian section
yes	48 (15.8)
no	250 (82.2)
unknown	6 (2.0)
Vaccination against influenza in the past
yes	32 (10.5)
no	251 (82.6)
unknown	21 (6.9)
History of smoking
yes	134 (44.1)
no	162 (53.3)
unknown	8 (2.6)
Intention to breastfeed
yes	283 (93.1)
no	16 (5.3)
unknown	5 (1.6)

^athyroid disease (50 women), chronic respiratory disease (14 women), diabetes mellitus (13 women), chronic heart disease (6 women), other (10 women)

^bgestational diabetes (15 women), hypertension (6 women), other (20 women)

Table 2. Influenza vaccination rate of pregnant women by characteristic (univarite analysis).

Factor	Influenza vaccination rate (%) p-value
Age, years (n=303)
≤ 30 (n=133)	12.8	0.024
> 30 (n=170)	25.3
Immigrants (n= 303)
yes (n=27)	28.5	NS
no (n=276)	19.5
Area of residence (n=300)
Attica (n-249)	18.9	NS
Other (n=51)	25.5
Education level (n=293)
Elementary (n=14)	21.4	0.009
high-school (n=116)	11.2
college – university (n=163)	26.4
Number of household members (n=304)
< 2 (n=129)	18.6	NS
≥ 2 (n=175)	20.6
Number of children < 5 years old (n=304)
0 (n=178)	19.2	NS
≥ 1 (n=126)	21.2
Underlying disease of the mother (n=304)
yes (n=80)	22.5	NS
no (n=224)	18.8
Number of parities (n=304)
< 2 (n=150)	18	NS
≥ 2 (n=154)	21.4
Gestational age, weeks (n=295)
< 28 (n=120)	22.5	NS
≥ 28 (n=175)	18.9
Pregnancy complications (n=295)
yes (n=39)	23.1	NS
no (n=256)	19.9
Scheduled cesarean section (n=298)
yes (n=48)	12.5	NS
no (n=250)	21.2
Vaccination against influenza in the past (n=283)
yes (n=32)	46.9	<0.001
no (n=251)	17.1
History of smoking (n=296)
yes (n=134)	24.6	0.047
no (n=162)	15.4
Intention to breastfeed (n=299)
yes (n=283)	19.8	NS
no (n=16)	12.5
Informed about the recommendations for influenza vaccination (n=271)
yes (n=107)	31.8	<0.001
no (n=164)	3.7
Knowledge score (n=298)*
< 90% (n=88)	14.8	NS
≥ 90% (n=210)	21

n: the number of participants who answered

NS: non-significant

*A cutoff of 90% was chosen because the mean knowledge score of the participating pregnant women was 87%>

Table

1. Influenza can cause serious illness to pregnant women.	Yes □ No □
2. Influenza during pregnancy may increase the risk for hospitalization.	Yes □ No □
3. Influenza may cause premature labor.	Yes □ No □
4. Influenza may cause the birth of a low-birth newborn.	Yes □ No □
5. Influenza may cause serious illness in neonates and young infants.	Yes □ No □
6. Influenza in young infants may increase the risk for hospitalization.	Yes □ No □
7. Influenza in young infants is associated with increased use of antibiotics.	Yes □ No □
8. Influenza vaccination reduces the risk for influenza in pregnant women.	Yes □ No □
9. Influenza vaccination during pregnancy reduces the risk for influenza in young infants.	Yes □ No □
10. Influenza vaccination is safe during pregnancy.	Yes □ No □
11. Influenza vaccination is recommended to all pregnant women regardless of trimester.	Yes □ No □
Total score

*Total score was estimated by adding the correct answers.