Perceptions of influenza vaccination during pregnancy in Korean women of childbearing age

Abstract

The rate of maternal influenza vaccination in Korea is much lower than the general population. We evaluated the influenza vaccination rate during pregnancy and assessed women's perceptions of the influenza vaccine. One thousand women of childbearing age were surveyed from April through May 2014, using a questionnaire about vaccination history, general understanding of influenza vaccination and that examined factors that influence decisions about influenza vaccination. We also conducted an intervention to evaluate potential improvement in vaccination behavior. The influenza vaccination rate during pregnancy was 37.3%. The common reasons listed in support of vaccination included the perception of the risk of influenza infection, recommendations from health care providers, and belief in the effectiveness of the influenza vaccine. The most common reasons for not vaccinating included concern about harmful effects and the lack of recommendation from health care providers. Based on the results of the questionnaire and intervention, it is important to provide accurate information and for health care providers to recommend the influenza vaccine to pregnant women. It is also necessary for the government to encourage women to receive the influenza vaccination as a healthcare policy.