Knowledge and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccination among Women of Reproductive Age Group

Abstract

Background: The acceptability of COVID vaccine by reproductive age group women remains unknown. Hence the study was conducted to define the knowledge about the COVID-19 vaccine and its acceptance in a sample of women who were planning to get pregnant. Method: This is a prospective study conducted at Chettinad Hospital and Research Institute, Chennai, India on 157 women of reproductive age group during August-September 2022. Data were collected using a face-to-face questionnaire administered to women who attended the Obstetrics and Gynaecology OPD. Data were analysed using SPSS. Results: Of the 157 respondents, nearly half were in the age group of 20-32 years, and almost 72% of them were educated with the minimum qualification being higher secondary education. In the given study, 70.7% were urban and semi-urban residents and 29.3% were rural women. About 66% of them were employed and the rest were unemployed. Gravidity status showed no significant differences regarding awareness. Overall awareness was about 74.5% and acceptance was 70.7%. Conclusion: Though women are aware of the vaccines, there is hesitancy prevailing. Literacy plays an important role in vaccine awareness and acceptance. Women of reproductive age should be made aware that the COVID vaccine is safe for use. The side effects, if any, will also be mostly minor. Although vaccine trials have not been conducted on pregnant women, the beneficial effects of vaccination far outweigh the negligible risk, if any, to the foetus and the women were made aware of this information.