This study was done to examine the actual state of influenza vaccination among pregnant women and factors affecting vaccination rate.
Data were collected using self-report questionnaires. Participants were pregnant women who participated in a prenatal education program at an acute care hospital in 2013. Data collected from 218 pregnant women were analyzed using the SPSS 18.0 Program.
Only 48.6% of the pregnant women had received vaccination when the influenza was prevalent. Statistically significant factors affecting the influenza vaccination rate among pregnant women were vaccination experience in the previous year, knowledge and attitude about vaccination, and gestation period.
Results indicate that the influenza vaccination rate among pregnant women is lower than that of elders, healthcare workers, and patients with chronic diseases, who have been considered to be the mandatory vaccination recipients. Therefore, it is necessary to develop programs and policies which provide information including safety of vaccines for pregnant women and to induce positive attitudes towards vaccination for these women, in order to ultimately improve the vaccination rate.
This study was to identify the current status of vaccination against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus among university students from the fields of nursing and allied health from a local community and verify factors influencing vaccination.
The study included 227 students in the fields of nursing and allied health from a provincial university. Data were obtained from these participants between May 31 and June 11, 2010 by using self-report questionnaires.
The rate of vaccination against the pandemic (H1N1) 2009 virus for these participants was 14.5%. No difference was observed in this regard between majors and school year. Factors that influence vaccination against this virus included previous vaccination against seasonal influenza and participants' attitudes toward general vaccination.
The results suggest that for effective pandemic (H1N1) 2009 vaccination of university students from the fields of nursing and allied health, students who have not been vaccinated should be intensively managed. Developing a vaccination program that encourages a positive attitude toward vaccination is recommended.