The knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward vaccination in pregnancy, pertussis, and pertussis vaccination during pregnancy among pregnant women in Hong Kong

Abstract

Aims The Centre for Health Protection of Hong Kong has issued a recommendation on pertussis vaccination during pregnancy to protect infants against pertussis. This study aimed to explore the knowledge, perceptions, and attitudes toward pertussis vaccination during pregnancy among pregnant women in Hong Kong. Methods This was a cross‐sectional study conducted over a 6‐week period from August 17 to September 30 2019 among pregnant women in an obstetrics department in a regional public hospital in Hong Kong. Information on participants' demographics, medical, and immunization history, their knowledge, perception and attitudes, toward pertussis vaccination during pregnancy were gathered. Point‐biserial correlation coefficients were used to determine correlation between variables. Results Only 112 (24.6%) women knew that pertussis vaccination can be given during pregnancy and 53 (11.6%) recognized that antenatal pertussis vaccination should be given in each pregnancy. Despite poor knowledge on the vaccination, over 80% of women showed an intention to receive pertussis vaccination during pregnancy. Fifty‐two (71.3%) women expressed that recommendations by healthcare professionals may alter their decision on vaccination uptake. The score in the knowledge section and the perception to the vaccination positively correlated with the intention to be vaccinated. Those who were given advice by healthcare professionals were more likely to indicate an intention to receive the vaccination. Conclusion Pregnant women in Hong Kong are likely to accept antenatal pertussis vaccination despite the poor knowledge on vaccination in pregnancy and antenatal pertussis vaccination. Recommendations by healthcare professionals are a key factor affecting women's decision on vaccination uptake.

Childhood pertussis is still here: An Asian city's perspectives

“…Interestingly, forty-eight percent of these individuals were not born in Hong Kong and might not have received the pertussis vaccine during their childhood. [29][30][31] Despite a paucity of data in Hong Kong, a seroprevalence study in China involving 3360 subjects was conducted between 2009 and 2017. 32 Seropositivity was significantly lower in the age groups <10 years, 20-29 years, and 30-39 years compared with the other age groups.…”

“…27,28 Other possible causes of the increased incidence include enhanced surveillance and reporting, improved sensitivity and availability of diagnostic tests, and possible emergence of genetic variations in the organism. 5,7,15,27,29…”

“…Transplacental transfer of vaccine‐induced antibodies will provide direct protection for the infants against pertussis before they are able to receive pertussis vaccination. For women who have not been vaccinated during pregnancy, they would still benefit from receiving one dose of dTap or dTap‐IPV vaccine as early as possible after delivery, preferably before discharge from the hospital 29‐31 . Such vaccination allows for indirect protection to infants.…”

“…Nevertheless, pediatricians still see isolated cases of pertussis or pertussis‐like cases from time to time. The epidemiology of pertussis in Hong Kong is uncertain but the disease still exists in our city 29‐31 . From a recent report by the Centre of Health Protection (CHP), there was an upsurge in the cases of pertussis from 20 to 50 per year during 2011–2016 to 69 cases in 2017.…”

“…Eighty‐three percent of the affected adults had no or unknown history of pertussis vaccination. Interestingly, forty‐eight percent of these individuals were not born in Hong Kong and might not have received the pertussis vaccine during their childhood 29‐31 …”