A randomized controlled trial of an educational intervention to promote influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women

Background

Although the World Health Organization has identified pregnant women as the highest priority group for seasonal influenza vaccination, vaccination rates among pregnant women remain low. Few interventions have been conducted to improve influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women.

Methods

A randomized control trial was conducted to assess the effect of providing brief education to increase influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women. Pregnant women were recruited from antenatal clinics of four public hospitals in Hong Kong and were randomized to receive standard care or a one-to-one brief education session. Vaccination status was assessed by telephone at two weeks postpartum.

Results

A total of 322 participants were recruited with 162 allocated to the intervention group and 160 to the standard care group. When compared with those receiving standard care, the vaccination rate was higher among participants who received the intervention (23.5% vs. 12.2%). Among participants who did not receive influenza vaccine, pregnant women in intervention group were substantially more likely to have made an unsuccessful attempt to be vaccinated (39.3% vs. 9.2%; p<0.001). Almost one-third of the pregnant women who had attempted to receive the vaccine reported they received advice against vaccination during pregnancy from health care providers (HCPs).

Conclusion

Brief education can be one strategy to improve vaccination uptake rates among pregnant women. Recommendations from HCPs substantially influence vaccination behaviours among pregnant women, both positively and negatively. Therefore, multicomponent approaches should be used to promote maternal influenza vaccination.

Clinical Trial Registration: www.clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01772901