Obstet Gynecol Sci.  2015 Mar;58(2):81-89. 10.5468/ogs.2015.58.2.81.

Knowledge, attitudes, and acceptability about influenza vaccination in Korean women of childbearing age

• Ko HS
• Jo YS
• Kim YH
• Park YG
• Moon HB
• Lee Y
• Shin JC

• KMID: 2314030
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5468/ogs.2015.58.2.81

Abstract

OBJECTIVE
The aims of the present study were to investigate the women's perspective on influenza infection and vaccination and to evaluate how they influence vaccine acceptability, in Korean women of childbearing age.
METHODS
This was a prospective study by random survey of women of childbearing age (20 to 45 years). They were asked to complete a questionnaire assessing their knowledge, attitudes and acceptability of influenza vaccination before and during pregnancy. This study utilized data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) between 2008 and 2012, to analyze the recent influenza vaccination trends.
RESULTS
According to KNHANES (2008-2012), influenza vaccination rates in women of childbearing age have increased up to 26.4%, after 2009. The questionnaire was completed by 308 women. Vaccination rate during pregnancy or planning a pregnancy was 38.6%. The immunization rate increased significantly with the mean number of correct answers (P<0.001). Women who received influenza vaccination were more likely to be previously informed of the recommendations concerning the influenza vaccination before or during pregnancy, received the influenza vaccination in the past, and of the opinion that influenza vaccination is not dangerous during pregnancy, with odds ratios of 14.6 (95% confidence interval [CI], 6.44 to 33.33; P<0.0001), 3.6 (95% CI, 1.84 to 6.97; P=0.0002) and 2.7 (95% CI, 1.34 to 5.47; P=0.0057).
CONCLUSION
Influenza vaccination rate in women of childbearing age has increased in this study and national data. More information and recommendation by healthcare workers, especially obstetricians, including safety of vaccination, might be critical for improving vaccination rate in women of childbearing age.

Keyword

Childbearing; Influenza, human; Vaccination; Women

MeSH Terms

Delivery of Health Care
Female
Humans
Immunization
Influenza, Human*
Korea
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Pregnancy
Prospective Studies
Surveys and Questionnaires
Vaccination*

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Influenza vaccination rates in 8,518 women participants (aged between 20 and 45 years), to the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2008 and 2012.

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