RESEARCH PAPER
Perceptions of recommended vaccinations before and during pregnancy among women – analysis of the influence of health locus of control and coronavirus anxiety
1
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Clinical Skills and Postgraduate Education for Nurses and Midwives, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz, Poland
2
Department of Obstetrics, Pregnancy Pathology and Gynaecology, Independent Public Multidisciplinary Health Care Centre of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Administration, Poland
Corresponding author
Danuta Ponczek
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Clinical Skills and Postgraduate Education for Nurses and Midwives, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz,, Łukasiewicza 1, 85-821, Bydgoszcz, Polska
Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Clinical Skills and Postgraduate Education for Nurses and Midwives, Nicolaus Copernicus University in Torun, Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz,, Łukasiewicza 1, 85-821, Bydgoszcz, Polska
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction and objective:
There is a growing number of people who are negative towards vaccination. Opponents of vaccination uptake can also be found in the group of pregnant women. In order to properly prepare for pregnancy and to protect her offspring from the negative effects of certain diseases, a woman should receive the vaccinations. The aim of this study was to investigate women’s perceptions of recommended immunizations before and during pregnancy, focusing on the impact of their health locus of control and apprehensions regarding COVID-19.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted among 144 patients of the Department of Obstetrics, Pregnancy Pathology and Gynaecology. A self-administered questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) version A and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were used.
Results:
Women’s attitudes towards immunization turned out to be mostly positive. When deciding to vaccinate during the planning period of pregnancy and during pregnancy, respondents were primarily motivated by the safety of the child, and declined mainly due to lack of knowledge/information about vaccination possibilities. The level of perceived fear of coronavirus influenced the decision to vaccinate against COVID-19 during the preconception period, while it did not influence the decision to vaccinate during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
Despite the many proven advantages of vaccinating pregnant women, fears related to insufficient research on vaccine safety lead many pregnant women to refrain from vaccination. It is advisable to increase the emphasis on the dissemination of knowledge on recommended vaccinations during the preconception period and during pregnancy. Doctors and midwives who care for women should play a central role in this regard.
There is a growing number of people who are negative towards vaccination. Opponents of vaccination uptake can also be found in the group of pregnant women. In order to properly prepare for pregnancy and to protect her offspring from the negative effects of certain diseases, a woman should receive the vaccinations. The aim of this study was to investigate women’s perceptions of recommended immunizations before and during pregnancy, focusing on the impact of their health locus of control and apprehensions regarding COVID-19.
Material and methods:
The study was conducted among 144 patients of the Department of Obstetrics, Pregnancy Pathology and Gynaecology. A self-administered questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) version A and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were used.
Results:
Women’s attitudes towards immunization turned out to be mostly positive. When deciding to vaccinate during the planning period of pregnancy and during pregnancy, respondents were primarily motivated by the safety of the child, and declined mainly due to lack of knowledge/information about vaccination possibilities. The level of perceived fear of coronavirus influenced the decision to vaccinate against COVID-19 during the preconception period, while it did not influence the decision to vaccinate during pregnancy.
Conclusions:
Despite the many proven advantages of vaccinating pregnant women, fears related to insufficient research on vaccine safety lead many pregnant women to refrain from vaccination. It is advisable to increase the emphasis on the dissemination of knowledge on recommended vaccinations during the preconception period and during pregnancy. Doctors and midwives who care for women should play a central role in this regard.
REFERENCES (21)
1.
Krawczyk M, Zielonka M. Jak rozwijały się ruchy antyszczepionkowe. In: Stosunek do szczepień ochronnych: sceptycyzm wobec nauki. Instytut Problemów Współczesnej cywilizacji im. Marka Dietricha. Warszawa: Wydawnictwo SGGW; 2021. p. 9–37.
2.
Marchewka AK, Majewska A, Młynarczyk G. Działalność ruchu antyszczepionkowego, rola środków masowego komunikowania oraz wpływ poglądów religijnych na postawę wobec szczepień ochronnych. Postępy Mikrobiologii. 2015;54(2):95–102.
3.
Szkopek P, Dębowska MD. Poziom lęku a postawa wobec obowiązkowych szczepień u kobiet w ciąży. Psychiatria. 2021;18(1):1–7. https://doi.org/10.5603/psych.....
4.
Kiełbik K, Korona-Głowniak I, Niedzielska G, Malm A. Szczepić czy nie szczepić, wyzwanie XXI wieku. In: Nyćkowiak J, Leśny J, editor. Badania i Rozwój Młodych Naukowców w Polsce. Nauki medyczne i nauki o zdrowiu. Część III. Poznań: Młodzi Naukowcy; 2019. p. 97–102.
5.
Gawlik K, Woś H, Waksmańska W, Łukasik R. Opinie rodziców na temat szczepień ochronnych u dzieci. Med Og Nauk Zdr. 2014;20(4):360–364. https://doi.org/10.5604/208345....
6.
Faleńczyk K, Piekarska M, Pluta A, Basińska H. Czynniki wpływające na postawy rodziców wobec szczepień ochronnych u dzieci. Post Nauk Med. 2016;XXIX(6):380–385.
7.
Pędrys K, Struziak A, Gałuszka B. Szczepienia kobiet w ciąży – rutynowa praktyka czy niepopularna forma ochrony zdrowia w Polsce? In: Bujalska B, Kalbarczyk K, editor. Wybrane aspekty stanu zdrowia osób mieszkających na terenie Polski – przegląd i badania Tom 1. Lublin: Wydawnictwo Naukowe Tygiel; 2021. p. 283–303.
8.
Kenneth A, Wallston BS, De Vellis R. MHLC – Wielowymiarowa Skala Umiejscowienia Kontroli Zdrowia. In: Juczyński Z, editor. Narzędzia Pomiaru w Promocji i Psychologii Zdrowia. Warszawa: Pracownia Testów Psychologicznych Polskiego Towarzystwa Psychologicznego; 2012. p. 79–86.
9.
Lee SA. Coronavirus Anxiety Scale: A brief mental health screener for COVID-19 related anxiety. Death Studies. 2020;44(7):393–401. https://doi.org/10.1080/074811....
10.
Scatigna M, Appetiti A, Pasanisi M, et al. Experience and attitudes on vaccinations recommended during pregnancy: survey on an Italian sample of women and consultant gynecologists. Hum Vaccin Immunother. 2022;18(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.1080/216455....
11.
O’Leary ST, Riley LE, Lindley MC, et al. Obstetrician-gynecologists’ strategies to address vaccine refusal among pregnant women. Obstet Gynecol. 2019;133(1): 40–47. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amep....
12.
McCarron SA, Bradley DT, Hart ND. A scoping review of the reasons for and approaches to non-uptake of pertussis and influenza vaccinations in pregnant women in the United Kingdom and Ireland. BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2023;23:857. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12884....
13.
Sabahelzain MM, Ibrahim ZA, Hamad SAB, Finnegan G. Vaccine information seeking behavior among pregnant women in Khartoum state, Sudan: a hospital-based cross-sectional study. Front Public Health. 2021;9:586333. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.....
14.
Mosiej E, Prygiel M, Zasada A. Szczepienia kobiet w ciąży. Medycyna Doświadczalna i Mikrobiologia. 2016;68,3–4:225–234.
15.
Erazo CE, Erazo CV, Grijalva MJ, et al. Knowledge, attitudes and practices on influenza vaccination during pregnancy in Quito, Ecuador. BMC Public Health. 2021;21:72. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889....
16.
Rowe SL, Perrett KP, Morey R, et al. Influenza and pertussis vaccination of women during pregnancy in Victoria, 2015–2017. Med J Aust. 2019;210(10):454–462. https://doi.org/10.5694/mja2.5....
17.
Smoleń E, Dobrowolska B: Umiejscowienie kontroli zdrowia a wybrane zachowania zdrowotne pielęgniarek województwa lubelskiego i podkarpackiego. Problemy Pielęgniarstwa. 2018;26(4):290–299.
18.
Dymecka J. Psychospołeczne skutki pandemii COVID-19. Neuropsychiatria i Neuropsychologia. 2021;16(1–2):1–10. https://doi.org/10.5114/nan.20....
19.
Augustynowicz E, Jackowska T. COVID-19 – szczepionki i szczepienia. Przegląd Pediatryczny. 2021;50(2B):16–26.
20.
Polack FP, Thomas SJ, Kitchin N, et al. Safety and efficacy of the BNT162b2 mRNA Covid 19 vaccine. N Engl J Med. 2020;383(27):2603–2615. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa....
21.
Ayhan SG, Oluklu D, Atalay A, et al. COVID-19 vaccine acceptance in pregnant women. Int J Gynaecol Obstet. 2021;154(2):291–296. https://doi.org/10.1002/ijgo.1....
Share
RELATED ARTICLE
| eISSN: | 2084-4905 |
| ISSN: | 2083-4543 |
We process personal data collected when visiting the website. The function of obtaining information about users and their behavior is carried out by voluntarily entered information in forms and saving cookies in end devices. Data, including cookies, are used to provide services, improve the user experience and to analyze the traffic in accordance with the Privacy policy. Data are also collected and processed by Google Analytics tool (more).
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
You can change cookies settings in your browser. Restricted use of cookies in the browser configuration may affect some functionalities of the website.
