Vaccine hesitancy towards childhood immunisation amongst urban pregnant mothers in Malaysia. Issue 9 (24th February 2020) - Kalok, Aida
Highlights: Vaccine hesitancy is a threat to global vaccination programme as it can lead to complete refusal. Vaccine hesitancy amongst Malaysian pregnant women is relatively low. Both maternal and paternal education level were risk factors associated with vaccine hesitancy. Muslim mothers were significantly less likely to be vaccine hesitant. Antenatal visits provide opportunity to provide positive reinforcement on childhood vaccination. Abstract: Background: Vaccine hesitancy is a complex behaviour which involves various degrees of indecision about specific vaccines or vaccination uptake. Access to antenatal care had been associated with positive vaccine behavior. Objective: To determine the prevalence of vaccine hesitancy towards childhood immunisation amongst urban pregnant mothers and the associated socio-demographic factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 1081 women who received antenatal care at a teaching hospital in Kuala Lumpur. Vaccine hesitancy was assessed using the Parent Attitudes about Childhood Vaccines (PACV) Survey in both English and validated Malay versions. The sociodemographic data of the mothers and their partners, source of vaccine information and reasons for hesitancy were analysed. Results: Eighty-six (8.0%) pregnant mothers were vaccine hesitant. Ethnicity, religion, number of children, educational level and employment status were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy. Multivariable analysis showed that a low level of education was the most significant risk factor (p < 0.001), followed by religion (p = 0.03). Health professionals was the main source of information about vaccine. The non-vaccine hesitant women were more likely to seek information from health professionals, and health books and magazine. Fear of adverse side effects of vaccines was the predominant concern for all participants (58%) whilst fear of vaccination pain, preference for alternative medicine and lack of trust in the pharmaceutical industry were significant reasons given by the vaccine hesitant group. Partners' ethnicity, a low educational level and a low income were significantly associated with vaccine hesitancy amongst pregnant mothers. Conclusion: Prevalence of vaccine hesitancy amongst urban Malaysian pregnant women was relatively low. Muslim mothers are less likely to be vaccine hesitant. Educational level of mothers and their partners are the common determinant of vaccine hesitancy amongst antenatal mothers.