Abstract

Objective: Tetanus, a vaccine-preventable disease, still has the potential to threaten human health. Immunization, especially in pregnant women, is critical as it protects both mother and baby. This study aims to evaluate the tetanus immunization status of pregnant women, their approach to the vaccine, and the factors affecting these.

Methods: A 19-item questionnaire was applied to pregnant women from all over Turkey who applied to the hospital for any reason and agreed to participate.

Results: A total of 5000 pregnant women from seven geographical regions, aged between 15 and 44 (mean 28±5.7) and whose gestational age was between 8 and 40 weeks (mean 22.07±8.5), participated in the study. %88.2 of them did not get vaccinated in their current pregnancy, and %23.2 of them didn’t plan to get vaccinated. When the reasons for not being vaccinated were questioned, %28.6 and %15.4 of them were afraid of side effects and harming the baby, respectively. In addition, %23.9 of them thought they didn’t need to be vaccinated, and %7.1 of them stated that the vaccine didn’t provide any protection. In univariate analysis, regions, age, gestational week, and the number of pregnancies resulting in delivery were found as factors that statistically significantly affected getting vaccinated, but in multivariate analysis, gestational week, education until secondary school, being followed by a family physician, history of more than three pregnancies, and being vaccinated in a previous pregnancy was found as an independent factor.

Conclusions: Neonatal tetanus should be prevented not only because of its high mortality but also, the sequelae, and it can be prevented, minimized, or even completely eradicated by vaccination of pregnant women. For this purpose, every pregnant woman should be informed, and education and counseling support should be provided for vaccination against tetanus.