Knowledge, Attitudes and Acceptance of COVID-19 Vaccine among Pregnant Women in Mbeya Region

Background

The coronavirus was discovered in Wuhan, China, in 2019. WHO declared it a pandemic on March 11, 2020. COVID-19 has caused about 580 million illnesses and 6.4 million fatalities worldwide as of August 8, 2022. Africa reported over 8.7 million cases and 173,063 deaths. East Africa reported 1.39 million cases on July 11, 2022. As of 8 August 2022, 37,865 COVID-19 cases and 841 deaths had been confirmed in Tanzania. To prevent serious illness and death from COVID-19, billions of vaccinations have been delivered. In symptomatic pregnant women, the mortality rate is 70% higher than in non-pregnant women. The effort to control COVID-19 in pregnant women in Tanzania is challenging because only 17.6% of the population is properly vaccinated.

Objectives

Assessment of COVID-19 vaccine awareness, knowledge, attitude, and acceptance among pregnant women in the Mbeya region.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of MZRH. Three scores were calculated for participants’ knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccination. These scores were compared to many sample factors using binary logistic regression and the chi-square test.

Results

The study included 233 pregnant women. Social media provided the most COVID-19 vaccine information to 31.33% of responders. The acceptance of vaccine was low by 38.63%, the knowledge on COVID-19 vaccination was poor in 71.24% and most had negative attitudes on the vaccine (76.82%). Chronic health conditions, high-risk pregnancies, awareness of the COVID-19 vaccine, reliable information sources, preference for natural immunity over vaccination, perceived risks to infants post-delivery, attitudes toward the vaccine, and basic knowledge were strongly associated.

Conclusion

Pregnant women exhibited low knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccines. Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine causes pause. Education on COVID-19 vaccination is needed to enhance vaccine uptake among pregnant women. This group must comprehend COVID-19 immunization importance, safety, and efficacy.

KEY TERMS

ATTITUDE −Feeling or way of thinking that affects a person’s behavior/action.

COVID-19 −Indicates an infection caused by Coronavirus 2019.

KAA −Knowledge, Attitude and Acceptance.

KNOWLEDGE −Facts, information and skills acquired through experience or education.

PREGNANCY −Describe the period in which a fetus develops inside a woman’s womb or uterus.

VACCINE ACCEPTANCE −Willingness and readiness to get vaccinated.

VACCINE HESITANCY −Delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccine despite the availability of vaccine services.