Pregnant women's perspectives about maternal immunization in Latin America

• Autores: Fauzia Malik, A.; Belizan, María; Gutierrez, Mariana; Vilajeliu, Alba; Sanclemente, Lauren N.; Gonzalez Casanova, Ines; Jones, Daniel Eduardo; Omer, Saad; Maria Ropero, Alba; Alonso, Juan Pedro
• Año de publicación: 2021
• Idioma: inglés
• Tipo de recurso: artículo
• Materia: ACCEPTANCE; ATTITUDES; CLINICAL EXPEREINCE; HEALTH EDUCATION; LATIN AMERICA; MATERNAL IMMUNIZATION; PREGNANT WOMEN; VACCINE UPTAKE
• Institución: Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas

Background: Maternal immunization rates and vaccine uptake in Latin America vary from country to country. This variability stems from factors related to pregnant women, vaccine recommendations from healthcare providers and the health system. The aim of this paper is to describe women's knowledge and attitudes to maternal immunziation, and barriers to access and vaccination related decision-making processes in Latin American countries. Methods: We conducted focus group discussions (FGD) with pregnant women in five middle-income countries: Argentina, Brazil, Honduras, Mexico and Peru, between July 2016 and July 2018. The FGDs were conducted by trained qualitative researchers in diverse clinics located in the capital cities of these countries. Results: A total of 162 pregnant women participated in the FGDs. In general, participants were aware of the recommendation to receive vaccines during pregnancy but lacked knowledge regarding the diseases prevented by these vaccines. Pregnant women expressed a desire for clearer and more detailed communication on maternal vaccines by their healthcare professionals instead of relying on other sources of information such as the internet. Overall, participants had positive attitudes towards maternal immunization and were open to receiving vaccines in pregnancy based on general trust they have in recommendations made by their healthcare providers. The main obstacles pregnant women said they encounter were mainly centered around their clinical experience: long waiting times, vaccine shortages, and impolite behavior of healthcare providers or clinical staff. Conclusion: Important advances have been made in Latin America to promote maternal immunization. Results from this study show that an important aspect that remains to be addressed, and is crucial in improving vaccine uptake in pregnancy, is women's clinical experience. We recommend pregnant women to be treated as a priority population for providing immunization and related healthcare education. It is imperative to train healthcare providers in health communication so they can effectively communicate with pregnant women regarding maternal vaccines and can fill knowledge gaps that otherwise might be covered by unreliable sources dispensing inaccurate information.
Fil: Fauzia Malik, A.. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados Unidos
Fil: Belizan, María. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina
Fil: Gutierrez, Mariana. University of Emory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Vilajeliu, Alba. Pan American Health Organization; Estados Unidos
Fil: Sanclemente, Lauren N.. University of Emory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Gonzalez Casanova, Ines. Indiana University; Estados Unidos. University of Emory; Estados Unidos
Fil: Jones, Daniel Eduardo. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina
Fil: Omer, Saad. University of Yale; Estados Unidos. University of Yale. School of Medicine; Estados Unidos
Fil: Maria Ropero, Alba. Pan American Health Organization; Estados Unidos
Fil: Alonso, Juan Pedro. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Instituto de Efectividad Clínica y Sanitaria; Argentina