Factor Affecting Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women's Decisions to Receive a COVID-19 Vaccine in Chiang Mai Province

Abstract

Pregnant women after infected with COVID-19, tend to have severe symptoms, resulting premature birth of their babies, and the babies are at risk of contracting COVID-19 from their mothers. As a result, they are considered a high-risk group that must be vaccinated as soon as possible to reduce the severity of the disease, however, vaccination rates in this group remain low. This cross-sectional study examined personal factors, COVID-19 related factors, health belief model with the decision to receive COVID-19 vaccine among 371 pregnant and breastfeeding women in Chiang Mai province. Questionnaires were used to collect such information. Descriptive statistics and multinomial logistic regression were used to analyze the data.

Results revealed that educational level, occupation, family income, smoking/drinking history, pregnancy complications after receiving COVID-19 vaccines and health belief model elements (perceived severity and barriers) significantly affected their decisions to get COVID-19 vaccine with predictive value of 35% at the 0.05 significance level. Physical limitations, such as pregnancy/congenital disease, as well as vaccine safety concerns, were major reasons why pregnant and breastfeeding women were hesitant to get vaccinated. To reduce information confusion, relevant organizations should investigate and disseminate more information about the efficacy and safety of vaccines in pregnant and breastfeeding women.