Respiratory Syncytial Virus: Willingness towards a Future Vaccine among Pregnant Women in Italy

Abstract

Background: This cross-sectional survey was designed to evaluate pregnant women’s awareness regarding Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) infection and willingness to receive the vaccine during pregnancy and to vaccinate their newborn against RSV. Methods: An anonymous survey was administered from 20 April to 30 June 2023, to pregnant women aged ≥ 18 years attending gynecology wards of randomly selected public hospitals in southern Italy. A minimum sample size of 427 participants was calculated. The survey assessed women’s socio-demographic characteristics, health-related information, their source(s) of information, and attitudes regarding RSV. Results: A total of 490 women participated. Those who were married/cohabiting, with a high-school degree compared to those who had a university degree, and those who needed additional information were more concerned that the newborn could acquire the RSV infection. The perceived utility of a future RSV vaccine administered during pregnancy was higher among those who were married/cohabiting, with a university degree, those with very good perceived health status, those who received information from healthcare workers, and those who needed additional information. Only 45.9% were willing to be vaccinated during pregnancy, and this was more likely among those with a university degree, with a very good perceived health status, who had received information from healthcare workers, and who needed more information. Finally, almost two-thirds (61.1%) were willing to vaccinate their newborn, and this was more likely among women with a university degree, with a very good perceived health status, and who needed additional information. Conclusions: An education campaign regarding RSV infection and its vaccine is needed in order to improve women’s perception and to support healthcare workers in promoting it when it will be available.

Respiratory Syncytial Vaccination: Parents’ Willingness to Vaccinate Their Children

“…The current survey, which is part of a large project regarding the willingness to vaccinate against RSV among different groups of individuals [19], focused on knowledge and attitudes of parents of children up to five years of age and adds motivating and useful information on this topic.…”

“…This survey is part of a larger project that investigated perceptions and acceptance towards the RSV vaccine among different population groups in southern Italy, including pregnant women [19]. Data were collected from April to November 2023 in randomly selected public kindergartens and nursery schools in the geographic areas of Naples and Catanzaro, southern Italy.…”

“…The minimum sample size was calculated assuming that 60% of parents would be willing to vaccinate their children against RSV (primary outcome) [19]; considering a margin of error of 5% and a confidence interval of 95%, the "minimum" total sample size was estimated to be 369 parents.…”

“…The self-administered questionnaire was prepared by the research team, adapted and modified from a previously published study of the research group on this topic [19]. It was structured in three sections for a total of 24 questions.…”

“…In addition, these results could be used to better target the development of approaches aimed at increasing the acceptance of the RSV vaccine. These factors have been studied for other recommended vaccinations [15][16][17][18], but few surveys have been conducted to explore the acceptance of a future RSV vaccine among pregnant women [19,20] and healthcare workers (HCWs) [21]. Therefore, the primary outcome of this study was to assess parents' willingness to vaccinate their children with the RSV vaccine and to identify the key predictors of this intention.…”