Abstract
BackgroundInfluenza during pregnancy may cause serious neonatal outcomes including stillbirth, fetal distress, preterm birth, congenital abnormalities, and stunted growth. Pregnant women are the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination, but low coverage has been repeatedly reported in this population. Understanding reasons for and for not receiving the seasonal influenza vaccine is needed to design communication strategies to increase vaccination coverage. This study aimed to describe knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of seasonal influenza vaccination among women giving birth in public maternity hospitals in Honduras.MethodsFrom August 20–October 8, 2018, we conducted a cross-sectional KAP survey regarding seasonal influenza vaccinations to a sample of postpartum women who gave birth in maternity hospitals and clinics from the Ministry of Health of Honduras and Honduran Social Security Institute. We reported frequency distributions for demographics, KAP of influenza vaccine, and vaccination coverage. We used logistic regression to analyze unadjusted and adjusted associations between sociodemographic characteristics and influenza vaccination.ResultsWe surveyed 842 postpartum women in 17 healthcare facilities. Of 534 postpartum women with term pregnancy and verified vaccinations, 417 (78.1%; 95% CI: 74.6–81.6%) were vaccinated for influenza. Factors associated with verified influenza vaccination included receipt of vaccination recommendations by a healthcare worker during prenatal check-ups (aOR: 16.46; 95% CI: 9.73–27.85), concurrent chronic disease (aOR: 5.00; 95% CI: 1.25–20.07), and influenza vaccination of other children in the household (aOR: 2.28; 95% CI: 1.19–4.39). The most cited reasons for vaccination were perceived benefits for both mother and infant and easy access. Reasons for non-vaccination were: vaccine was not offered and fear of side effects, harm to the infant, and needles or pain caused by injection.ConclusionInfluenza vaccination was well received among postpartum women in Honduras. Increasing clinician recommendations for vaccination and assuring the vaccine is readily available to women during prenatal visits may increase vaccination rates.
Highlights
Influenza is a highly infectious respiratory disease that causes fever, headache, musculoskeletal pain, malaise, sore throat, and cough [1]
Pregnant women are the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination, but low coverage has been repeatedly reported in this population
We reported frequency distributions for demographics, KAP of influenza vaccine, and vaccination coverage
Summary
Influenza is a highly infectious respiratory disease that causes fever, headache, musculoskeletal pain, malaise, sore throat, and cough [1]. WHO Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE) on Immunization considers pregnant women the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination and recommends vaccination at any stage of pregnancy [2]. Pregnant women who contract influenza, those with underlying medical conditions, are at increased risk for hospitalization and complications compared to non-pregnant women [4, 5]. This may result in part from adverse immunologic, pulmonary, and cardiovascular effects. Following recommendations from SAGE and the Pan American Health Organization’s (PAHO) Technical Advisory Group, 39 countries or territories in the Americas initiated seasonal influenza vaccination among high risk groups including 31 for pregnant women [10]. This study aimed to describe knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) of seasonal influenza vaccination among women giving birth in public maternity hospitals in Honduras.
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