Vaccination against influenza among pregnant women in southern Brazil and associated factors.

Raúl Andrés Mendoza-Sassi,Franciane Maria Machado Schroeder,Nathalia Matties Maas,Seiko Nomiyama,Angélica Ozório Linhares,Juraci Almeida César

doi:10.1590/1413-812320182412.08382018

Raúl Andrés Mendoza-Sassi, Franciane Maria Machado Schroeder + Show 4 more

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https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320182412.08382018

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Abstract

This article aims to identify the prevalence and factors associated with influenza vaccination in pregnant women. This is a cross-sectional study conducted in a municipality in the southernmost region of Brazil, which included all women giving birth in 2016. The outcome was having received the vaccine against influenza during pregnancy. Sociodemographic, behavioral and prenatal care characteristics and morbidities were analyzed. The analysis included sample description, the prevalence of vaccination for each independent variable and a multivariate analysis. Two thousand six hundred ninety-four pregnant women were interviewed, of which 53.9% reported having been vaccinated. Factors associated with increased prevalence of vaccination were mother's higher schooling, prenatal care, tetanus vaccination and prenatal care performed in a public service. On the other hand, prenatal care onset after the first quarter reduced the prevalence of vaccination. The results point to the need to reinforce the importance of vaccination against influenza among pregnant women and among health professionals, regardless of the severity of the current epidemiological setting.

Highlights

IntroductionInfluenza is an acute and highly contagious viral infection with a worldwide distribution
Material and methodsInfluenza is an acute and highly contagious viral infection with a worldwide distribution
Groups that are most at risk and develop the most severe forms of the disease are children, the elderly, people with chronic and immunosuppressive diseases and pregnant women. With regard to this latter group, there is evidence that pregnant women who are infected suffer a greater number of hospitalizations, premature births and higher mortality2

Summary

Introduction

Influenza is an acute and highly contagious viral infection with a worldwide distribution. It occurs seasonally and often in the form of a pandemic, as in 2009. An estimated 3 to 5 million cases and around 250-300,000 deaths occur annually worldwide because of it. Groups that are most at risk and develop the most severe forms of the disease are children, the elderly, people with chronic and immunosuppressive diseases and pregnant women. With regard to this latter group, there is evidence that pregnant women who are infected suffer a greater number of hospitalizations, premature births and higher mortality. Studies show that mothers’ vaccination reduces the incidence of influenza, with clear benefits to the mother and the baby and no reports of serious adverse effects

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