Objective: To identify maternal background, medical and gynecological characteristics associated with COVID-19 vaccination likelihood, in the context where COVID-19 vaccination rates among pregnant women are significantly lower than the general population.
Methods: In a retrospective cohort study, including all women who delivered between January and September 2021, background and medical history, including current and previous pregnancies diagnoses, were compared between vaccinated and unvaccinated women. Multivariable logistic models were used to identify factors associated with vaccination for the entire population, and for the two distinctive populations included in the study (Bedouin Arabs and Jewish women).
Results: The study population included 7017 women, of whom 1925 (27.4%) were vaccinated during pregnancy. According to the multivariable analysis, unvaccinated mothers were younger with lower socioeconomic score. They were more likely to be Bedouin Arabs, have a poor obstetrical history or recurrent pregnancy loss, and insufficient prenatal care. Additional risk factors were inconsistent between the two ethnicities included in the study.
Conclusions: Ethnicity, insufficient prenatal care, and having a poor obstetric history were consistently associated with lower vaccination among pregnant women. These factors should be considered in future plans aimed at increasing vaccination among pregnant women.
Keywords: COVID-19; COVID-19 vaccination; prenatal care; prenatal vaccination; retrospective cohort; vaccination hesitancy.
© 2023 The Authors. International Journal of Gynecology & Obstetrics published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics.