What drives pregnant women's decisions to accept the pertussis vaccine?

Abstract

The aims of this study were to identify factors associated with pregnant women's intention to receive the pertussis vaccine during pregnancy, using the Health Belief Model; while comparing between pregnant native-born Israeli women and Israeli women born in the former Soviet Union. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to recruit 200 pregnant Israeli native-born women and women born in the former Soviet Union. Data were collected using a cross-sectional questionnaire survey. Regression results revealed that susceptibility to pertussis, seriousness of pertussis, perceived benefits of the vaccine, knowledge of risk factors of pertussis, and general health motivation together explained 76% of the variance of women's intention to receive the pertussis vaccine. Perceived benefits of the vaccine was the most significant factor affecting pregnant women's intention to receive the pertussis vaccine during pregnancy (p<0.05). Native-born women had higher intention to be vaccinated and more positive health beliefs (p<0.05).