Frequency of tetanus vaccination in pregnant women attending to the child birth preparation classes and influencing factors

Abstract

Objective: The aim of the study is to examine the frequency of tetanus immunization of pregnant women attending to the childbirth preparation classes and affecting factors.

Methods: One hundred pregnant women in the last trimester of their pregnancy (36th-40th week of their pregnancy) who attended to the child birth preparation classes in Hittit University Training and Research Hospital have participated in this study. The data have been collected by researchers with face to face interviews using a questionnaire which has been prepared by the researchers based on the literature.

Results: We found that 30.0% of pregnant women were not vaccinated against tetanus. Reasons for not being vaccinated during pregnancy were respectively indolence/negligence (40.0%), no recommendation by the doctor (30.0%), ignorance (20.0%) and concern for baby coming to harm (10.0%). There was no statistically significant relation between tetanus vaccination and age, education level, occupation, spouse’s education level, income level, reminding for vaccination by phone, antenatal care and antenatal education (p>0.05). Whereas, we found a statistically significant relation between having tetanus vaccination card and the status of tetanus vaccination (p =0.009).

Conclusion: We concluded that each pregnant woman should be given vaccination card and supporting training and counselling for vaccination against tetanus.