Knowledge and Practice of Maternal Vaccination during Pregnancy: A Cross-sectional Survey of Selected Obstetricians

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Maternal vaccination is a key strategy to meet Sustainable Development Goal 3, aiming to eliminate preventable deaths among newborns and children under five by 2030. This study explored obstetricians' knowledge and practices regarding maternal vaccination globally.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey targeting obstetricians was conducted by the World Association of Trainees in Obstetrics and Gynaecology (WATOG,) from June 25 to July 18, 2023. A structured 25-item questionnaire, distributed electronically, gathered data on sociodemographics and vaccination knowledge and practices. Data analysis was performed using IBM Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) Statistics for Windows, version 24.

RESULTS: Ninety-two obstetricians participated. Only 16.3% exhibited good knowledge of safe vaccines in pregnancy. Fear of teratogenicity was the primary reason (58.7%) for vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women. Approximately 47.8% of participants indicated that only tetanus toxoid was routinely available in their hospitals, with 48.9% reporting that women had to pay for vaccines. Nonetheless, 62% stated their countries had national vaccination guidelines for pregnant women.

CONCLUSION: The study identifies significant gaps in obstetricians' knowledge of vaccine safety, alongside barriers related to availability and cost, impacting maternal vaccination uptake.