Do Sociocultural Factors Affect COVID-19 Vaccine Hesitancy Among Pregnant Women? A Hospital-oriented Cross-sectional Study in Türkiye

Abstract

Purpose: It was aimed to evaluate coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women after the vaccine has been approved for use. Material and Method: This study was a hospital-oriented cross-sectional study. The study universe consisted of 8972 pregnant women. The number of pregnant women included in the study sample was 368. The dependent variable was vaccine hesitancy, whereas the independent variables consisted of the socio-demographic, bio-demographic, and socio-economic characteristics of pregnant women. Chi-square analysis was used for paired comparisons, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine risk factors. Results: The rate of pregnant women who had vaccine hesitancy was 59.5% in this study. Vaccine hesitancy was 2,470-fold (CI: 1,319-4,625) higher in pregnant women who did not have a formal education than those who had a formal education, 8,136-fold (CI: 3,461-19,122) higher in pregnant women who had a living child in the household than those who did not, 1,776-fold (CI: 1,039-3,035) higher in pregnant women who had a wanted pregnancy than those who had an unwanted one and 7,485-fold (CI: 2,894-19,360), 35 age 4,212 (CI:0,436-1,438) higher in pregnant women who were influenced by the social media than those who were not. In addition, it is 0.626 (CI: -0.469 - -0.445) times protective for women under 19 years of age. Conclusion: Low education level, first pregnancy, desire for pregnancy, and being influenced by social media were the risk factors for COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women.