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The attitude of Polish women planning pregnancy and/or having children towards vaccinations: a cross-sectional survey study
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Affiliations- Doctoral School, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Warsaw Hospital of Infectious Diseases, Warsaw, Poland
- Student’s Scientific Group Affiliated to the Department of Children’s Infectious Diseases, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Student’s Scientific Group Affiliated to the 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
- Student's Scientific Group affiliated to 2nd Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
- 2nd Chair and Department Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland
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Abstract
Objectives: Infectious diseases in pregnant women can cause birth defects. Implementing appropriate prevention
methods while planning pregnancy can help avoid some of them.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey study was performed. The questionnaire investigated attitudes towards vaccinations, as well as opinions on anti-vaccine movements and the so-called “chickenpox parties”. The questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this study and the survey was conducted using the google form, which was posted on social media groups for women planning pregnancy, being pregnant or for mothers’ groups from Poland.
Results: The study group consisted of 2402 women; their median age was 31 years (range 16–54 years). Most women were from cities > 100,000 inhabitants (49.7%, 1194/2402) and had higher education (71.9%, 1726/2402). A positive attitude towards vaccinations was more common among younger, nulliparous women from big cities (p = 0.02, p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). 2068/2402 (86.1%) of respondents were not vaccinated before pregnancy and 1931/2402 (80.4%) of women were not vaccinated during pregnancy. While most women (1545/2402, 64.3%) considered vaccination safe, and effective (1904/2402, 79.3%) against infectious diseases, many (n = 296/2402 12.3%) have no opinion on the so-called chickenpox party.
Conclusions: Most surveyed women had a positive attitude towards vaccinations and consider vaccines a safe and effective method of protection against infectious diseases. Since a significant proportion of women were not vaccinated
before or during pregnancy and about 12% of women are undecided, the physician’s role is crucial in educating and
persuading the patient to be vaccinated.
Abstract
Objectives: Infectious diseases in pregnant women can cause birth defects. Implementing appropriate prevention
methods while planning pregnancy can help avoid some of them.
Material and methods: A cross-sectional survey study was performed. The questionnaire investigated attitudes towards vaccinations, as well as opinions on anti-vaccine movements and the so-called “chickenpox parties”. The questionnaire was developed for the purpose of this study and the survey was conducted using the google form, which was posted on social media groups for women planning pregnancy, being pregnant or for mothers’ groups from Poland.
Results: The study group consisted of 2402 women; their median age was 31 years (range 16–54 years). Most women were from cities > 100,000 inhabitants (49.7%, 1194/2402) and had higher education (71.9%, 1726/2402). A positive attitude towards vaccinations was more common among younger, nulliparous women from big cities (p = 0.02, p = 0.04 and p = 0.01, respectively). 2068/2402 (86.1%) of respondents were not vaccinated before pregnancy and 1931/2402 (80.4%) of women were not vaccinated during pregnancy. While most women (1545/2402, 64.3%) considered vaccination safe, and effective (1904/2402, 79.3%) against infectious diseases, many (n = 296/2402 12.3%) have no opinion on the so-called chickenpox party.
Conclusions: Most surveyed women had a positive attitude towards vaccinations and consider vaccines a safe and effective method of protection against infectious diseases. Since a significant proportion of women were not vaccinated
before or during pregnancy and about 12% of women are undecided, the physician’s role is crucial in educating and
persuading the patient to be vaccinated.
Keywords
anti-vaccination movement; infections; newborn diseases; pregnancy; vaccines
About this articleTitle
The attitude of Polish women planning pregnancy and/or having children towards vaccinations: a cross-sectional survey study
Journal
Issue
Article type
Research paper
Pages
655-661
Published online
2022-06-03
Page views
3967
Article views/downloads
524
DOI
Pubmed
Bibliographic record
Ginekol Pol 2022;93(8):655-661.
Keywords
anti-vaccination movement
infections
newborn diseases
pregnancy
vaccines
Authors
Carlo Bienkowski
Monika Kowalczyk
Agata Golik
Joanna Kacperczyk-Bartnik
Paweł Bartnik
Agnieszka Dobrowolska-Redo
Ewa Romejko-Wolniewicz
Maria Pokorska-Spiewak
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