254829 Acceptance of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine: Focus groups with pregnant women and new mothers in a large metro area

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Laura Burnworth, MPH, CHES , Division of Foodborne, Waterborne, and Environmental Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA
Megan Reynolds, MDiv, MPH , Infection Prevention and Epidemiology, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Atlanta, GA
BACKGROUND: The popularity of web-based communication has increased the propagation of anti-vaccine material, leading to consumer distrust. Parents' concerns and lack of accurate vaccine knowledge can lead to significant delays in infant immunization, beginning with the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine. As such, it is the role of public health entities to ensure that infants receive timely vaccinations by empowering parents to educate themselves. METHODS: We conducted five focus groups in a metro area with pregnant women and women who had given birth in the past six months (n=26). One group was screened for “vaccine hesitancy” and another for “vaccine acceptance.” The other participants were grouped according to where they delivered. A discussion tool and a hepatitis B fact sheet were created to guide the conversation. RESULTS: Negative reactions to vaccines were limited and knowledge of hepatitis B was considerably low. Participants discussed discomfort with the number of vaccines children need and the young age at which vaccination begins. Participants were familiar with hepatitis B virus and its effect on the liver but less familiar with the fact that infants infected with hepatitis B become chronic carriers. Participants preferred prenatal education for women about the birth dose and offered creative ways to reach this population. CONCLUSION: Women want to vaccinate their infants but want timely, clear information to aid their decisions. Efforts should focus on educating women prenatally about the birth dose and ensuring that a comfort level has been reached prior to the vaccine administration in the hospital.

Learning Areas:
Advocacy for health and health education
Assessment of individual and community needs for health education
Planning of health education strategies, interventions, and programs
Public health or related education

Learning Objectives:
1. Describe areas of low knowledge and resistance to the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in this population group 2. Describe areas of high engagement about the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in this population group 3. List ways suggested by this population group to educate women about the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine

Keywords: Perinatal Health, Immunizations

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I was the project manager of a state funded grant to determine current hospital policies and procedures surrounding the administration of the birth dose of hepatitis B vaccine in Georgia and determine what the current education deficits are for pregnant women and new mothers in the metro Atlanta area. My interests involve the improvement of health literacy and engagement level of parents surrounding vaccines for their children.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.