Vaccination of pregnant women in the Valencian Community during the 2014-15 influenza season: a multicentre study.

OBJECTIVE: To study influenza vaccination uptake in pregnant women from three Health Departments in the Valencian Community (Spain) during the 2014-15 flu season, to identify degree of knowledge, sources of information and attitudes toward immunization against influenza. METHODS: Multicentre cross-sectional descriptive study during the 2014-15 vaccination campaign. Vaccine coverage was determined using the Nominal Vaccination Registry (NVR). Subsequently, a telephone survey was carried out on a sample of vaccinated and unvaccinated postpartum women. RESULTS: The NVR had information on 934 (59.5%) out of 1,569 postpartum women; distribution per Health Departments was: 420 (44.9%), 161 (17.2%) and 353 (37.8%) in La Ribera, Torrevieja and Elx-Crevillent respectively. Vaccine uptake was 27.9% (n = 261). According to the "Country of Origin" variable, 77.5% (n = 724) of women were Spanish, with a vaccination rate of 26.7% (n = 193), compared to 22.5% (n = 210) who were non-Spanish, with a rate of 32.4% (n = 68). The main source of information was midwives for 83.7% (n = 159) of vaccinated pregnant women and for 44.6% (n = 127) of non-vaccinated women. The main reasons for vaccine refusal were lack of awareness (29.5%, n = 84) and not considering it necessary (25.6%, n = 73). CONCLUSIONS: Despite their high willingness to be vaccinated after receiving information about the flu vaccine, the vaccination coverage in pregnant women studied is still low and can be improved. Health professionals need new information strategies to extend vaccine uptake to a larger number of pregnant women in Spain. Midwife advice plays an essential role in transmitting information on influenza vaccination in pregnant women and has a significant impact on uptake.

The effect of prenatal education classes on the birth expectations of Spanish women.

BACKGROUND: Maternity care has focused on lowering maternal and neonatal morbidity, though women's beliefs and expectations of care have been set aside. Women face childbirth with preconceived expectations, some of which could be expressed on their birth plan. The latter could beinfluenced by health professionals through prenatal education classes, though this has not been measured before. Antenatal classes have been argued against,since no resulting improvement in childbirth experience has been demonstrated, though some advantages may be seen: they favour communication and give time for expressing maternal expectations and beliefs. The present study evaluates the influence of prenatal educational classes led by midwives upon women birth preferences. METHODS: A multicentre, observational, prospective study was carried out, measuring variables in pregnant women attending prenatal educational classes in different health centres within the health districts in Valencia (Spain) over the period January-October 2012. Birth plan preferences were compared prior to and upon completion of the classes. RESULTS: A total of 212 eligible pregnant women (78.3% nulliparous) with an average age of 31.39±4.0 years consented to participate in the study. There were significant differences in birth plan preferences prior to and upon completion of the prenatal classes. Three items showed an increase between the initial session and the end of the intervention: the ability to push spontaneously, episiotomy avoidance, and early breastfeeding. An adjusted general linear model was used to compare pre-post results in relation to sociodemographic and obstetric variables. DISCUSSION: The changes in birth plans could suggest that prenatal educational classes exert an influence upon maternal birth preferences.

Determinants of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnant women in Valencia, Spain.

BACKGROUND: In most countries the coverage of seasonal influenza vaccination in pregnant women is low. We investigated the acceptance, reasons for rejection and professional involvement related to vaccine information in pregnant women in Valencia, Spain. METHODS: Observational retrospective study in 200 pregnant women, 100 vaccinated and 100 unvaccinated, were interviewed during the 2014/2015 vaccination campaign. Electronic medical records, immunization registry and telephone interviews were used to determine reasons for vaccination and immunization rejection. RESULTS: 40.5% of pregnant women in the health department were vaccinated. The midwife was identified as source of information for 89% of women. The vaccine was rejected due to low perceptions of risk of influenza infection (23%), lack of information (19%), considering the vaccine as superfluous (16%), close proximity of delivery date (13%) and fear of side effects (12%). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women in Spain declined to be vaccinated due to under-estimation of the risk of contracting or being harmed by influenza, and lack of information. Interventions aiming to optimize vaccination coverage should include information addressing the safety and effectiveness of the current vaccine together with improved professional training and motivation.

Can we improve the birth weight prediction? The effect of normal BMI using a multivariate model / ¿Podemos mejorar la predicción del peso al nacer? El efecto del IMC pregestacional normal usando un modelo multivariante

Objective: The construction of a predictive model that improves the estimation of the fetal weight (EFW).Study Design: a comparative, descriptive study. One hundred forty pregnant women were recruited at two-stage sample in health department in Spain. They were classified in four groups depending on the pre-gestational BMI. Fetal weight at term was estimated by ultrasound at 33-35 weeks (EFW40w) by one gynecologist. A regression model was created with the variables that reacted to the newborn´s weight, symphysis-fundal height(SFH), EFW40w, gestational age (GA), ferritin level and cigarettes smoked. Results: A multivariate model was created for the NW group to estimate the fetal weight (EFWme), resulting in R2=0.727 (p<0.001). The differences of the averages obtained between EFW40w and EFWme, with the new born´s weight were significant (p<0.001). EFWme underestimates birth weight by 0.07 g (mean error 0.53%),and EFW40w overestimates it by 300.89 g (mean error10.12%). In order to evaluate the predictive model and verify the predictions we used the Bland-Altman analysis. The average error in estimating the birth weight with EFWme was 1.94% underestimating the result, whereas the ultrasound error overestimated the result 10.93%.Conclusion: The multivariate model created for the NW group improves the accuracy of the ultrasound (AU)

Objectivo: construir un modelo predictivo que mejore la estimación del peso del recién nacido (PFE). Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional dónde 140 gestantes fueron estudiadas mediante un muestreo bietápico en un Departamento de Salud en España. Fueron clasificadas en cuatro grupos dependiendo del IMC pregestacional materno. El peso proyectado al nacer fue estimado por la ecografía realizada entre las 33-35 semanas de gestación (PP40s). Se construyó un modelo de regresión con las variables que se reaccionaban con el peso al nacer, altura uterina (AU), PP40s, edad gestacional (EG), nivel de ferritina y cigarrillos consumidos. Resultados: Se construyó un modelo multivariante para el grupo Normo-peso para estimar el peso al nacer (PFm) obteniendo una R2=0,727 (p<0,001). Las diferencias de las medias obtenidas entre PP40s y PFm, con el peso del recién nacido, fueron significativas (p<0,001). El PFm infravalora el peso al nacer en 0,07 g (error medio 0,53%) y la PP40s lo sobrestima en 300,89 g (error medio 10,12%). Para evaluar el modelo predictive y verificar las predicciones realizadas se utilizó el análisis de Bland y Altman. El error medio de la estimación del peso al nacer mediante modelo multivariante fue de 1,94% infraestimando el resultado, en cambio el error cometido por la ecografía sobrestima el resultado en 10,93%. Conclusiones: El modelo multivariante construido, para el grupo NW, mejora la precisión de la ecografía (AU)

Can we improve the birth weight prediction? The effect of normal BMI using a multivariate model.

OBJECTIVE: The construction of a predictive model that improves the estimation of the fetal weight (EFW). STUDY DESIGN: a comparative, descriptive study. One hundred forty pregnant women were recruited at two-stage sample in health department in Spain. They were classified in four groups depending on the pre-gestational BMI. Fetal weight at term was estimated by ultrasound at 33-35 weeks (EFW40w) by one gynecologist. A regression model was created with the variables that reacted to the newborn's weight, symphysis-fundal height (SFH), EFW40w, gestational age (GA), ferritin level and cigarettes smoked. RESULTS: A multivariate model was created for the NW group to estimate the fetal weight (EFWme), resulting in R2=0.727 (p<0.001). The differences of the averages obtained between EFW40w and EFWme, with the newborn's weight were significant (p<0.001). EFWme underestimates birth weight by 0.07 g (mean error 0.53%), and EFW40w overestimates it by 300.89 g (mean error 10.12%). In order to evaluate the predictive model and verify the predictions we used the Bland-Altman analysis. The average error in estimating the birth weight with EFWme was 1.94% underestimating the result, whereas the ultrasound error overestimated the result 10.93%. CONCLUSION: The multivariate model created for the NW group improves the accuracy of the ultrasound.

Objectivo: construir un modelo predictivo que mejore la estimación del peso del recién nacido (PFE). Material y Métodos: Estudio observacional dónde 140 gestantes fueron estudiadas mediante un muestreo bietápico en un Departamento de Salud en España. Fueron clasificadas en cuatro grupos dependiendo del IMC pregestacional materno. El peso proyectado al nacer fue estimado por la ecografía realizada entre las 33-35 semanas de gestación (PP40s). Se construyó un modelo de regresión con las variables que se reaccionaban con el peso al nacer, altura uterina (AU), PP40s, edad gestacional (EG), nivel de ferritina y cigarillos consumidos. Resultados: Se construyó un modelo multivariante para el grupo Normo-peso para estimar el peso al nacer (PFm) obteniendo una R2=0,727 (p.