tetano
Editor, Senior Moderator
Int J Gynaecol Obstet
. 2023 Apr 10.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14773. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum Kenyan women
Mary M Marwa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], John Kinuthia[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anna Larsen[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Julia C Dettinger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Laurén A Gomez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Pascal Awino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Felix Abuna[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Salphine Watoyi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ben Ochieng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nancy Ngumbau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Grace John-Stewart[SUP] 2 3 5 [/SUP], Jillian Pintye[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
Abstract
Objective: The authors evaluated factors contributing to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum women to inform vaccine scale-up strategies.
Methods: This observational study utilized data from pregnant and postpartum women attending four public maternal child health (MCH) clinics in Western Kenya. From October 2020 to July 2022, nurses assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, defined as reporting "unlikely" or "very unlikely" to the question, "If a vaccine for COVID-19 were available today, what is the likelihood that you would get vaccinated?"
Results: Among 1023 women (235 pregnant, 788 postpartum), 20% reported worsened MCH care during the pandemic and most (92%) perceived themselves or family members to be at risk for COVID-19, yet 54% of women reported COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy was more frequent among women reporting worsened MCH care (P < 0.001) since the pandemic and those who did not trust the government as a source of COVID-19 information (P = 0.016). Over the 2-year period, willingness to receive the vaccine almost doubled (38% to 71%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that sustaining access to quality MCH services may decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Willingness to receive the vaccine doubled over the 2-year period in our cohort, suggesting increased trust for use and acceptance in the unique context of the pregnancy/postpartum period.
Keywords: COVID-19; Kenya; postpartum; pregnancy; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy.
. 2023 Apr 10.
doi: 10.1002/ijgo.14773. Online ahead of print.
COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum Kenyan women
Mary M Marwa[SUP] 1 [/SUP], John Kinuthia[SUP] 1 2 [/SUP], Anna Larsen[SUP] 2 3 4 [/SUP], Julia C Dettinger[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Laurén A Gomez[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Pascal Awino[SUP] 2 [/SUP], Felix Abuna[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Salphine Watoyi[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Ben Ochieng[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Nancy Ngumbau[SUP] 1 [/SUP], Grace John-Stewart[SUP] 2 3 5 [/SUP], Jillian Pintye[SUP] 2 6 [/SUP]
Affiliations
- PMID: 37036449
- DOI: 10.1002/ijgo.14773
Abstract
Objective: The authors evaluated factors contributing to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine hesitancy among pregnant and postpartum women to inform vaccine scale-up strategies.
Methods: This observational study utilized data from pregnant and postpartum women attending four public maternal child health (MCH) clinics in Western Kenya. From October 2020 to July 2022, nurses assessed COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, defined as reporting "unlikely" or "very unlikely" to the question, "If a vaccine for COVID-19 were available today, what is the likelihood that you would get vaccinated?"
Results: Among 1023 women (235 pregnant, 788 postpartum), 20% reported worsened MCH care during the pandemic and most (92%) perceived themselves or family members to be at risk for COVID-19, yet 54% of women reported COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Vaccine hesitancy was more frequent among women reporting worsened MCH care (P < 0.001) since the pandemic and those who did not trust the government as a source of COVID-19 information (P = 0.016). Over the 2-year period, willingness to receive the vaccine almost doubled (38% to 71%, P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Our findings suggest that sustaining access to quality MCH services may decrease COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy. Willingness to receive the vaccine doubled over the 2-year period in our cohort, suggesting increased trust for use and acceptance in the unique context of the pregnancy/postpartum period.
Keywords: COVID-19; Kenya; postpartum; pregnancy; vaccination; vaccine hesitancy.