Maternal immunization is becoming more important in preventing newborn morbidity and death, but uptake remained low. While the challenges to uptake have been widely recognized, past research has not adequately represented women from minority groups. For a study, researchers examined the factors that help and hinder prenatal vaccine uptake among women from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. A study of 537 prenatal care women was done; 69% were born abroad. During their pregnancy, 63% received or planned to get pertussis vaccination, and 57% received or planned to receive influenza vaccine.
On multivariable analysis, healthcare professional recommendation (OR 10, 95% CI 5–21, P< 0.001) and confidence maternal pertussis vaccination is safe (OR 36, 95% CI 18–70, P<0.001) were predictors of pertussis vaccine uptake. Previous receipt of influenza vaccine (OR 8, 95% CI 5–15, P <0.001) and healthcare professional recommendation (OR 30, 95% CI 16–56, P<0.001) were predictors of influenza vaccine uptake. The primary cause for non-vaccination (17/46, 37%) was a lack of healthcare practitioner advice. While most women were aware of recommended vaccinations and intended to receive them, newly arrived migrant women (those who had been in Australia for less than two years) were less likely to be aware of pertussis vaccine (15/22, 68% vs. 452/513, 88%, P= 0.01) and to believe it was safe during pregnancy (4/22, 18% vs. 299/514, 58%, P<0.001).
This emphasized the critical responsibility of healthcare practitioners in advising and teaching women, especially recently arrived migrant women, about the need for immunization during pregnancy.
Reference:www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/21645515.2018.1445455
