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Strategies to reduce COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant individuals: Data from a prospective survey of unvaccinated pregnant women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet 2023 Jul;162(1):95-104

Date

04/27/2023

Pubmed ID

37102200

DOI

10.1002/ijgo.14799

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85156191514 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   4 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To explore strategies that could reduce coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy in pregnancy.

METHODS: In 2021, the authors conducted a survey of pregnant women assessing attitudes and beliefs regarding COVID-19 vaccination. The present analysis reviewed trusted sources of information about COVID-19 vaccination that could reduce vaccine hesitancy among pregnant respondents.

RESULTS: A total of 295 surveys were analyzed. Using 10-point Likert scales, intentions to accept COVID-19 vaccine were split between individuals with low (n = 126, 43%) and high (n = 141, 48%) intentions to receive the vaccine, with only a small percentage of women having midrange vaccination intentions (n = 28, 10%). When asked what would reduce their COVID-19 vaccine concerns, published data was the leading answer in both low (46.2%) and medium (35.7%) intention groups followed by personally knowing someone who got vaccinated during pregnancy (21.0% and 28.6% for low and medium groups, respectively). In contrast, an obstetrician's recommendation was the most common answer in the group with high intention to vaccinate (37.2%). Knowing someone who received the vaccine in pregnancy was the leading response for reducing concerns of COVID-19 vaccination among Black respondents.

CONCLUSION: The survey identified several innovative and culturally specific approaches to address vaccine confidence and complacency and improve vaccine uptake in pregnant people.

Author List

Binger K, Cui Y, Kelly JA, Palatnik A

Authors

Jeffrey A. Kelly PhD Professor in the Psychiatry and Behavioral Medicine department at Medical College of Wisconsin
Anna Palatnik MD Associate Professor in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department at Medical College of Wisconsin




MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Female
Humans
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Vaccination