![[ Visit Client Website ]](images/banner.gif)
Learning Objective 1: The learner will be able to explain the inconsistency in the vaccine coverage rate.
Learning Objective 2: The learner will be able to describe the barriers for influenza vaccination in pregnant women.
Methods: Data were collected from 396 pregnant women in Korea between June 2011 and March 2012. Initial data were collected using self-report structured questionnaires before the influenza vaccination season and follow-up data were collected through telephone calls made by the research assistant. Among the total number of participants, 340 women responded to both pre-survey and follow-up calls.
Results: There was an inconsistency between the number of women who intended to receive the vaccination and those that were eventually vaccinated. The actual vaccination coverage among pregnant women was lower than that estimated; conversely, some women who did not intend on being vaccinated received the vaccination. The major responses that were identified as barriers to influenza vaccination were “being pregnant,” “healthy,” “clinician did not recommend,” and “did not think it was necessary.”
Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that clinicians should explore the barriers to vaccination and encourage not only those women who have no intention to be vaccinated, but also those who wish to receive the vaccine. Educational programs should be designed to reassure pregnant women that influenza vaccination is safe and necessary during pregnancy and that it is also beneficial to pregnant women. Proactive recommendations by the clinicians would increase the proportion of pregnant women who receive the influenza vaccination.
See more of: Research Sessions: Oral Paper & Posters