Evaluation of Pregnant Women's Approaches to the COVID-19 Vaccine- Survey Study

ABSTRACT

Introduction: Pregnant women are at high risk for COVID-19 infection. The World Health Organization recommends COVID-19 vaccination in all weeks of pregnancy. However, there is insufficient data on vaccination rates and the opinions of pregnant women regarding vaccination. Therefore, this study was planned to investigate the hesitation, perspectives, and approaches of pregnant women regarding the COVID-19 vaccination. Materials and Methods: Between January 2022 and June 2022, pregnant women who applied to the Gynecology and Obstetrics outpatient clinics of Ankara Training and Research Hospital were voluntarily given a series of questionnaires, and their responses were recorded. Results: Vaccination rate was 63% (945) among 1500 pregnant women who participated in the study. When pregnant women who refused the vaccine were questioned, the most common responses given were fear of side effects (45%) and adverse effects on the baby (44%). Of the pregnant women who had received the vaccine, 85.8% had received the vaccine before pregnancy. When the COVID-19 vaccination status of the pregnant women was assessed, there was no statistically significant difference between age groups, gestational weeks, or educational status (p> 0.05). It was observed that pregnant women with lower educational status were more afraid of the injection (p< 0.05). Conclusion: It is crucial that pregnant women and their relatives are informed about vaccination practices during pregnancy. The main reasons why pregnant women avoid vaccination are the side effects of the vaccine and particularly, its potential harm to the fetus. Adequate and accurate vaccine information will influence the opinions of patients, particularly pregnant women.