Understanding Pregnant Women’s Attitudes and Behavior Toward Influenza and Pertussis Vaccination

• Published in: Qualitative health research 2015-03, Vol.25 (3), p.360-370
• Main Authors: Wiley, Kerrie E., Cooper, Spring C., Wood, Nicholas, Leask, Julie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Female; Health Behavior; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health technology assessment; Humans; Immunization; Influenza; Influenza Vaccines - administration & dosage; Influenza, Human - prevention & control; Interviews as Topic; Maternal & child health; New South Wales; Patient Acceptance of Health Care - psychology; Pertussis Vaccine - administration & dosage; Pregnancy; Pregnant Women - psychology; Risk Assessment; Risk Factors; Social marketing; Whooping Cough - prevention & control
• ISSN: 1049-7323; 1552-7557
• DOI: 10.1177/1049732314551061

Internationally, pregnant and postpartum women have been the focus of influenza and pertussis immunization campaigns, with differing levels of vaccine acceptance. We used semistructured interviews to explore pregnant women’s perspectives on influenza vaccination during pregnancy and postpartum pertussis vaccination. Many women saw pregnancy as a busy time filled with advice on what they “should” and “should not” do to ensure the health of their fetus, and vaccinating themselves was regarded as just one of these tasks needing consideration. Women were more concerned about potential risks to their infants’ health before their own. They saw influenza as a disease affecting the mother, whereas they viewed pertussis as a threat to the baby and therefore comparatively more risky. They were thus more likely to intend to vaccinate against pertussis to protect their infant. Framing of vaccination information toward protection of the baby might help increase vaccine uptake among pregnant women.