Knowledge, utilization and barriers of pregnant women to influenza vaccine in primary health care centers in Dammam and Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, 2017–2018

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to assess the knowledge and utilization of, as well as barriers to, influenza vaccine uptake, and how these things relate to personal factors in pregnant women in Saudi Arabia. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between November 2017 and April 2018, a cross-sectional survey was conducted among 410 pregnant women attending 23 primary health care centers in Dammam and Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia. A structured questionnaire was used to gather participants’ demographic data and to measure their level of knowledge and utilization of, as well as barriers to, influenza vaccine. RESULTS: A total of 57.1% of participants had good knowledge about influenza vaccine during pregnancy, and 19.8% took the vaccine. The most influential factor among those who did not take the vaccine was that the flu vaccine has side effects (34%). Only 36.6% of all participants were ever offered the flu vaccine during pregnancy by a health care provider. CONCLUSION: The low influenza vaccine uptake due to misconceptions about the associated side effects calls for active awareness programs not only for pregnant women and the general public but also for health care providers in Saudi Arabia. This will not only raise the awareness and utilization of influenza vaccine but also prevent severe illness and complications in mothers and their fetuses.