A Sensitive Public Health Issue—The Vaccine Acceptancy and the Anti-Pertussis Immune Status of Pregnant Women from a Romanian Metropolitan Area

Valeria Herdea, Petruta Tarciuc, Raluca Ghionaru, Bogdan Pana, Sergiu Chirila, Andreea Varga, Cristina Oana Mărginean, Smaranda Diaconescu, Eugene Leibovitz

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    3 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    (1) Background: Immunization of pregnant women (PWs) against Bordetella pertussis infection is still a challenging health matter. (2) Methods: We gathered questionnaire data from 180 PWs regarding their expectancies and current opinion on infectious disease prevention. For the group of PWs who agreed to further investigations, the serum levels of Ig G anti-B. pertussis antibodies (IgG-PT) titer were measured and analyzed. (3) Results: A total of 180 PWs completed the questionnaire and 98 (54.44%, study group) accepted to perform the laboratory tests. During the first two pregnancy trimesters, PWs were found to be more willing (compared with the control group) to test for identifying high-risk situations that could affect themselves and their future infant (p < 0.001). Most of the participating PWs (91, 91.9%) had low levels of anti-pertussis antibodies (values < 40 IU/mL). Declared vaccine coverage of the PWs newborn infants for DTaP-1 and Prevenar 13 (at 2 months) and DTaP-2 and Prevenar 13 (at 4 months) vaccination reached 100% in the study group, while in the control group only 30/82 (36.59%) PWs accepted to be vaccinated during pregnancy, none of them providing data on their infants’ vaccine coverage. (4) Conclusions: Enrolled PWs faced a waning immunity against the B. pertussis infection. By raising maternal confidence in the protective role of vaccines against infectious diseases, better vaccine acceptance and better infant vaccine coverage can be achieved.

    Original languageEnglish
    Article number640
    JournalChildren
    Volume10
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - 1 Apr 2023

    Keywords

    • Tdap
    • early preventive health education
    • pertussis immunization
    • pregnancy
    • pregnant women

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • Pediatrics, Perinatology, and Child Health

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