Do previously held vaccine attitudes dictate the extent and influence of vaccine information-seeking behavior during pregnancy?

Abstract

Pregnancy represents a high information need state, where uncertainty around medical intervention is common. As such, the pertussis vaccination given during pregnancy presents a unique opportunity to study the interaction between vaccine attitudes and vaccine information-seeking behavior. We surveyed a sample of pregnant women (N = 182) during early pregnancy and again during late pregnancy. The variables of vaccine confidence and risk perception of vaccination during pregnancy were measured across two questionnaires. Additional variables of decision conflict and intention to vaccinate were recorded during early pregnancy, while vaccine information-seeking behavior and vaccine uptake were recorded during late pregnancy. 88.8% of participants reported seeking additional information about the pertussis vaccine during pregnancy. Women that had a lower confidence in vaccination (p = .004) and those that saw the risk of pertussis disease as high compared to the risk of side effects from the pertussis vaccination during pregnancy (p = .004) spent significantly more time seeking information about the pertussis vaccination. Women's perception of risk related to vaccination during pregnancy significantly changed throughout the pregnancy (t(182) = 4.685 p< .001), with women perceiving the risk of pertussis disease higher as compared to the risk of side effects from the vaccine as the pregnancy progresses. The strength and influence of information found through seeking was predicted by intention to vaccinate (p = .011). As such, we suggest that intention to vaccinate during early pregnancy plays a role in whether the information found through seeking influences women towards or away from vaccination.

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice (KAP) of COVID-19 Vaccine Among Saudi Mothers

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“Saint Google, now we have information!”: a qualitative study on narratives of trust and attitudes towards maternal vaccination in Mexico City and Toluca

“…When faced with a decision to vaccinate, it is common to seek more information -particularly during pregnancy when information-seeking behaviours are heightened [27]. The reported lack of vaccine information from HCPs paired with a heavy use of the internet for maternal health information is an issue of concern [28]. Facebook and Google, both widely cited by study participants as key information sources, have been previously studied for their potential to propagate vaccine misinformation [29].…”

Health Literacy and Behaviour among Pregnant Women with Obesity: A Qualitative Interpretive Description Study

“…Participants mentioned con icting advice about the Covid vaccination as a particular challenge in this respect. Similarly, several studies have shown that pregnant women experience a wealth of contradictory opinions and guidance about other vaccination programmes during pregnancy (47)(48)(49). This inconsistency may be problematic if women choose to trust information from their social network over information from health professions, with potentially severe consequences for both the mother and child's health.…”