Strategies to improve maternal vaccination acceptance

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Vaccinology
• Qualitative Research

Background:

• Maternal vaccination, including influenza and pertussis, is recommended in England but uptake rates are low in some areas.
• A qualitative study was conducted in Hackney, London, to understand factors affecting maternal vaccination acceptance.
• This research aims to provide recommendations for enhancing long-term maternal vaccination acceptance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore factors influencing maternal vaccination acceptance during pregnancy.
• To identify barriers and facilitators to vaccination uptake in pregnant women.
• To develop strategies for increasing maternal vaccination rates.

Main Methods:

• Qualitative study utilizing in-depth interviews with 47 pregnant/recently pregnant women and 10 healthcare professionals.
• Data collected through interviews and video-recorded consultations in Hackney, a region with low vaccination coverage.
• Analysis combined deductive insights from anthropological works with inductive thematic analysis.

Main Results:

• Key themes influencing acceptance include access to vaccination, healthcare institution communication, community/family impact, healthcare professional views, and patient-provider relationships.
• Findings highlight the need for improved communication and trust in healthcare services.
• Diverse factors affect women's decisions regarding vaccination during pregnancy.

Conclusions:

• Implementing recommended strategies can foster a more open and democratized healthcare system.
• Enhancing maternal vaccination acceptance requires a multi-faceted approach addressing systemic and interpersonal factors.
• The study provides a foundation for targeted interventions to improve public health outcomes.