Vaccine Uptake and COVID-19 Frequency in Pregnant Syrian Immigrant Women

Abstract

Immigrants have difficulties in the use of essential health services such as vaccinations. Vaccine uptake among pregnant immigrant women is very low. The aim of the study was to examine the vaccination status of pregnant immigrant women who received health services in an immigrant health center (IHC) affiliated to primary health care institutions. The research is a retrospective-designed cross-sectional type of study. The study sample consists of pregnant Syrian women who received health care from the strengthened IHC of a District Health Directorate in Istanbul between August 2020 and 2022. Age, trimesters, number of pregnancies, high-risk pregnancy status, vaccination dates and status against influenza, COVID-19 and tetanus, and vaccine types of COVID-19 were evaluated. The statistical significance level was determined as p < 0.05. None of the pregnant women had received the influenza vaccine. Of the women whose tetanus vaccine data were evaluated, 29.7% had received at least two doses of the tetanus vaccine. Of the pregnant women, 19.4% were vaccinated against COVID-19 with a minimum two doses and 4.2% had a COVID-19 infection during their pregnancy. None of the women with the COVID-19 infection were fully vaccinated against COVID-19. The vaccine uptake of pregnant immigrant women is very low. Public health interventions are needed to improve vaccination coverage among disadvantaged groups.

Prevalence of depression, anxiety, and associated factors in immigrant pregnant women in Türkiye: A cross-sectional study

“…This shows that pregnant women are hesitant about COVID-19 vaccines. [26] Lack of adequate and accurate information about vaccines and reservations about the side effects of vaccines may have led to low vaccination rates. Antenatal care is very important in terms of maternal and neonatal morbidity and mortality.…”

“…In similar study, it was found that pregnancy follow-ups were high at the Migrant Health Center. [ 26 ] Various studies conducted in Turkey have shown that Syrian immigrant pregnant women have difficulties in accessing prenatal care services and have low rates of prenatal care (73.3%). [ 28 – 30 ] The rate of prenatal care for pregnant women in Turkey is 96.1%.…”

Non-vaccination Against COVID-19 Among Venezuelan Refugees and Migrants Adults in Peru: A Cross-sectional Study, 2022

“…However, these studies are not directly comparable to our findings due to the lack of representativeness of the study populations. Specifically, these studies were conducted among Palestinian refugees in a single refugee camp in Jordan, where the non-vaccination rate was 77.4% [ 23 ], and among pregnant Syrian refugee women at a single health center in Turkey, where the rate was 69.3% [ 26 ]. The discrepancy between the non-vaccination rates in our study and those conducted in Canada and the United States could be attributed to differences in sample size and the timing of the studies (conducted in 2020 and 2021).…”

Factors Associated with the Prevalence of Postpartum Anxiety Disorder and Depression in Syrian Migrant Women Living in Turkey: A Cross-Sectional Study

“…Pregnancy tetanus vaccination, which prevents tetanus-related neonatal deaths very seriously and is still the most effective method of eliminating maternal and neonatal tetanus, is at a vital point, and it is recommended to be administered at least two doses during pregnancy [ 34 , 35 , 36 ]. In a study conducted in Turkey, the rate of Syrian migrant women who had two doses of tetanus vaccine during pregnancy was reported as 29.7% [ 37 ]. The rate of tetanus vaccination during pregnancy among Turkish women is 81%.…”

“…Factors such as the absence of pregnant women in clinical trials of COVID-19 vaccines in the first place, the development of vaccines using new technologies, the inability to clearly demonstrate the efficacy and safety of vaccines during pregnancy and postpartum, and the side effects of vaccines may have been effective in delaying the vaccination preferences of pregnant and postpartum women [ 41 , 42 , 43 , 44 ]. In a study conducted with migrant pregnant women in Turkey, it was reported that only 20% of women had two vaccine doses and that vaccination was very low among migrant pregnant women [ 37 ]. In another study conducted in Lebanon, the COVID-19 vaccination rate of pregnant Syrians was found to be 25.9% [ 41 ].…”