Factors influencing refusing of flu vaccination among pregnant women in Italy: Healthcare workers’ role

BACKGROUND: Pregnant women are at increased risk of influenza complications. Influenza vaccine provides them a substantial protection. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to investigate determinants associated with non‐adherence to influenza vaccine recommendations in pregnant women in Italy. METHODS: A cross‐sectional study has been carried out among pregnant women attending their follow‐up visit in some mother and child services in a Region of Italy from October 2016 to January 2017. The study protocol was approved by the local research Ethics. A self‐administered close‐ended questionnaire has been administered to the pregnant women. Differences in background, socio‐demographic characteristics, knowledge and attitudes towards flu vaccine were tested in vaccinated and unvaccinated women. Multivariate analysis was performed to control for confounding factors. RESULTS: Three hundred and sixty‐six women answered the survey (97% response rate) and 96.1% (348) declared of being unvaccinated against influenza during the 2016‐2017 influenza season. Frequent reasons for refusing vaccination were drugs objection and concerns about vaccines’ effects. According to the refusal attitude, influenza knowledge was low in the group. Moreover, analysis showed that low adherence to vaccination is associated to lacking promotion of vaccination to pregnant women carried out by healthcare workers (P < 0.005). CONCLUSIONS: Healthcare workers have a key role in assisting women during the gestational period, so their active involvement in vaccination promotion is essential. It is necessary to improve health care workers’ knowledge about vaccine relevance in protecting pregnancy and their communication skills to properly inform pregnant women.