Psychosocial determinants of pertussis and influenza vaccine uptake in pregnant women: A prospective study

Abstract

Objective: To identify the psychosocial factors influencing women's uptake and willingness to receive pertussis and influenza vaccine during pregnancy.

Methods: The study population comprised 1364 healthy nulliparous pregnant women who participated in a prospective cohort study at two obstetric hospitals in South Australia between 2015 and 2017. Information on women's vaccination status, sociodemographic, lifestyle and psychological state were collected at 9-16 weeks' gestation and medical case notes were checked post-delivery to verify the reported vaccination status. Poisson regression models were used to estimate the crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) to identify psychosocial factors influencing uptake of vaccination during pregnancy.

Results: Willingness to receive the recommended maternal vaccines was high (90%). Overall, 79% and 48% received maternal pertussis and influenza vaccines respectively. There was no evidence to support the influence of psychosocial factors on women's willingness to receive immunization during pregnancy. High levels of anxiety (aPR 0.98, 95% CI: 0.87-1.09) was not associated with uptake of maternal pertussis vaccine. However, elevated depressive symptoms (aPR 1.14, 95% CI: 1.00-1.30) and very high-perceived stress during pregnancy were significantly associated with receipt of pertussis vaccination (aPR 0.87; 95% CI 0.76-0.99). Women with mild depressive symptoms (aPR 1.21, 95% CI 1.00-1.44) and mild anxiety symptoms (aPR 1.21, 95% CI: 0.99-1.48) were more likely to receive influenza vaccine during pregnancy (aPR 1.27, 95% CI: 1.08-1.49). A history of major depressive disorder was independently associated with receipt of pertussis (aPR 1.16, 95% CI 1.06-1.26) and influenza vaccination during pregnancy (aPR 1.32; 95% CI 1.14-1.58).

Conclusion: Regardless of psychosocial factors, most women reported a positive willingness to receive the recommended vaccinations during pregnancy. However, psychosocial factors influenced the uptake of pertussis and influenza vaccines during pregnancy. Psychosocial factors should be taken into consideration in designing interventions and implementation of maternal pertussis and influenza immunization programs.

Keywords: Influenza; Maternal immunization; Pertussis; Provider recommendation; Psychosocial factors.