Drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia: A descriptive qualitative study.

Oliver, J; Kaufman, J; Bagot, K; Bradfield, Z; Homer, C; Gibney, KB; Danchin, M

Drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia: A descriptive qualitative study.

Oliver, J Kaufman, J Bagot, K Bradfield, Z Homer, C

Gibney, KB Danchin, M

Permalink

Publisher:: Elsevier BV
Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Vaccine X, 2022, 12, pp. 100240
Issue Date:: 2022-12

Open Access

Copyright Clearance Process

Recently Added
In Progress
Open Access

This item is open access.

Adobe PDF

Download Published versionAdobe PDF (650.72 kB)

View on publisher's site

View statistics

Full metadata record

Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Oliver, J
dc.contributor.author	Kaufman, J
dc.contributor.author	Bagot, K
dc.contributor.author	Bradfield, Z
dc.contributor.author	Homer, C https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7454-3011
dc.contributor.author	Gibney, KB
dc.contributor.author	Danchin, M
dc.date.accessioned	2023-01-20T00:39:38Z
dc.date.available	2022-11-14
dc.date.available	2023-01-20T00:39:38Z
dc.date.issued	2022-12
dc.identifier.citation	Vaccine X, 2022, 12, pp. 100240
dc.identifier.issn	2590-1362
dc.identifier.issn	2590-1362
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165300
dc.description.abstract	OBJECTIVE: Women of childbearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, report higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but reasons for this hesitancy are unknown. We explored factors influencing vaccine decision-making among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia to inform strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. METHODS: Twenty-four women aged 18-40 years were interviewed July-October 2021. Interview data were analyzed thematically using an inductive, constructivist approach. RESULTS: Of 24 participants, 14 (57%) were vaccine-hesitant, of whom 10/14 pregnant or breastfeeding. Six key themes were identified: weighing up perceived risks for self and baby; availability of information; change and contradictions; vaccination above everything; practical issues - hurdles of inconvenience. Vaccine-hesitant women's concerns included safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility effects. Some participants expressed a loss of trust in healthcare providers following vaccine mandates. CONCLUSIONS: Public health campaigns and communication should be tailored to address specific concerns to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and prevent negative COVID-19 outcomes for women of childbearing age. Findings suggest that effective strategies to address hesitancy in this group may include providing robust short- and long-term safety data across fertility, birth outcomes and child development following COVID-19 vaccination. Other supportive strategies may include systemic changes like making childcare available at vaccination points (where practical), and using data linkage infrastructure to track post-vaccination outcomes.
dc.format	Electronic-eCollection
dc.language	eng
dc.publisher	Elsevier BV
dc.relation.ispartof	Vaccine X
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1016/j.jvacx.2022.100240
dc.rights	info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
dc.rights	This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
dc.title	Drivers of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia: A descriptive qualitative study.
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	12
utslib.location.activity	England
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Faculty of Health
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - CHSP - Health Services and Practice
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - WHO CC
utslib.copyright.status	open_access	*
dc.date.updated	2023-01-20T00:39:36Z
pubs.publication-status	Published online
pubs.volume	12

Abstract:

OBJECTIVE: Women of childbearing age, including pregnant and breastfeeding women, report higher COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy, but reasons for this hesitancy are unknown. We explored factors influencing vaccine decision-making among women of childbearing age in Victoria, Australia to inform strategies to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake. METHODS: Twenty-four women aged 18-40 years were interviewed July-October 2021. Interview data were analyzed thematically using an inductive, constructivist approach. RESULTS: Of 24 participants, 14 (57%) were vaccine-hesitant, of whom 10/14 pregnant or breastfeeding. Six key themes were identified: weighing up perceived risks for self and baby; availability of information; change and contradictions; vaccination above everything; practical issues - hurdles of inconvenience. Vaccine-hesitant women's concerns included safety in pregnancy, breastfeeding and fertility effects. Some participants expressed a loss of trust in healthcare providers following vaccine mandates. CONCLUSIONS: Public health campaigns and communication should be tailored to address specific concerns to increase COVID-19 vaccine uptake and prevent negative COVID-19 outcomes for women of childbearing age. Findings suggest that effective strategies to address hesitancy in this group may include providing robust short- and long-term safety data across fertility, birth outcomes and child development following COVID-19 vaccination. Other supportive strategies may include systemic changes like making childcare available at vaccination points (where practical), and using data linkage infrastructure to track post-vaccination outcomes.

Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:

http://hdl.handle.net/10453/165300