Using the Health Belief Model to Identify Predictors of COVID-19 Vaccine Acceptance among a Sample of Pregnant Women in the U.S.: A Cross-Sectional Survey

The aim of the study was to identify factors that predict acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women. Using the Health Belief Model, the authors administered a cross-sectional survey of pregnant and postpartum women in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 227 women a...

Full description

Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Aubrey Jones, Dorothy Wallis
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2022-05-01
Series:Vaccines
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-393X/10/6/842
Description
Summary:The aim of the study was to identify factors that predict acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women. Using the Health Belief Model, the authors administered a cross-sectional survey of pregnant and postpartum women in the United States during the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 227 women agreed to participate and completed the entire survey. Over half (59%) the participants had received the COVID-19 vaccine at the time of the study. Perceived barriers to vaccination (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and perceived benefits (<i>p</i> < 0.001) to vaccination were statistically significant predictors of vaccination. Trust in healthcare providers was also statistically predictive of vaccination (<i>p</i> = 0.001). Binary regression results were statistically significant (χ2(9) = 79.90, <i>p</i> < 0.001), suggesting that perceived benefits, barriers, severity, and susceptibility scores had a statistically significant effect on the odds of a participant being vaccinated. Results indicate a need for increased patient education regarding COVID-19 vaccination during pregnancy, including the benefits of vaccination for mother and fetus.
ISSN:2076-393X