Factors influencing women's attitudes towards antenatal vaccines, group BStreptococcusand clinical trial participation in pregnancy: an online survey

Abstract

ObjectivesTo explore factors influencing the likelihood of antenatal vaccine acceptance of both routine UK antenatal vaccines (influenza and pertussis) and a hypothetical group B Streptococcus (GBS) vaccine in order to improve understanding of how to optimise antenatal immunisation acceptance, both in routine use and clinical trials.SettingAn online survey distributed to women of childbearing age in the UK.Participants1013 women aged 18–44 years in England, Scotland and Wales.MethodsData from an online survey conducted to gauge the attitudes of 1013 women of childbearing age in England, Scotland and Wales to antenatal vaccination against GBS were further analysed to determine the influence of socioeconomic status, parity and age on attitudes to GBS immunisation, using attitudes to influenza and pertussis vaccines as reference immunisations. Factors influencing likelihood of participation in a hypothetical GBS vaccine trial were also assessed.ResultsWomen with children were more likely to know about each of the 3 conditions surveyed (GBS: 45% vs 26%, pertussis: 79% vs 63%, influenza: 66% vs 54%), to accept vaccination (GBS: 77% vs 65%, pertussis: 79% vs 70%, influenza: 78% vs 68%) and to consider taking part in vaccine trials (37% vs 27% for a hypothetical GBS vaccine tested in 500 pregnant women). For GBS, giving information about the condition significantly increased the number of respondents who reported that they would be likely to receive the vaccine. Health professionals were the most important reported source of information.ConclusionsIncreasing awareness about GBS, along with other key strategies, would be required to optimise the uptake of a routine vaccine, with a specific focus on informing women without previous children. More research specifically focusing on acceptability in pregnant women is required and, given the value attached to input from healthcare professionals, this group should be included in future studies.

Antenatal vaccination against Group B streptococcus: attitudes of pregnant women and healthcare professionals in the UK towards participation in clinical trials and routine implementation

“…Contrary to the usual emphasis on minimizing the number of visits to cause as little inconvenience as possible in many standard vaccine studies, it seems that offering additional time, scans and appointments could improve the likelihood of pregnant women participating, whereas incentives such as vouchers or money would have little effect on recruitment. A previous study of mostly non‐pregnant women had indicated that those with children might be more likely to take part in a clinical vaccine trial , although the differences here were not significant. In the same study among non‐pregnant women, 32% of respondents indicated they would be very/fairly likely to take part compared with 23.8% of the pregnant women surveyed here.…”

Maternal vaccination against pertussis: a systematic review of the recent literature

“…Korean women of childbearing age appeared not to be adequately informed by healthcare providers (HCPs) about the vaccinations recommended in pregnancy 54. In a recent UK survey involving 1013 women of childbearing age, multiparous women were more likely to accept antenatal vaccinations including pertussis and to participate in vaccine trials during pregnancy compared with primiparous 55. In addition, HCPs in the UK were the most important and valuable source of information for pregnant women 55.…”

“…In a recent UK survey involving 1013 women of childbearing age, multiparous women were more likely to accept antenatal vaccinations including pertussis and to participate in vaccine trials during pregnancy compared with primiparous 55. In addition, HCPs in the UK were the most important and valuable source of information for pregnant women 55. Similarly, in Australia, new mothers were more likely to be vaccinated if they had heard of the disease and the benefits of vaccination from an HCP 56.…”

Attitudes towards antenatal vaccination, Group B streptococcus and participation in clinical trials: Insights from focus groups and interviews of parents and healthcare professionals

“…This qualitative study was conducted as part of a larger project with the overall aim of obtaining more in-depth information on the attitudes and opinions of pregnant women and healthcare professionals towards antenatal vaccination, GBS, a potential GBS vaccine and participation in clinical trials during pregnancy, which were prominent issues raised during an initial large-scale survey of British women of child-bearing age (24,25).…”