Kabanga Revocatus Lawrence, Chambo Vincent John, Mokeha Rebecca
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Mbeya Zonal Referral Hospital, Mbeya, Tanzania.
Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, University of Dar es Salaam-Mbeya College of Health and Allied Sciences, Mbeya, Tanzania.
PLOS Glob Public Health. 2025 Jul 24;5(7):e0004408. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0004408. eCollection 2025.
COVID-19 has caused about 580 million cases and 6.4 million deaths worldwide by August 8th, 2022, including 8.7 million cases (173,063 deaths) in Africa. East Africa reported 1.39 million cases on July, 2022. Tanzania confirmed 37,865 cases and 841 deaths by 8th August 2022. Although billions of vaccine doses administered globally, just 17.6% of Tanzanians are fully vaccinated. Symptomatic pregnant women face a mortality risk that is 70% higher than in non-pregnant women.. Therefore, this study aimed at assessing knowledge, attitude, and acceptance of COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women in the Mbeya region. A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Obstetrics and Gynecology department of MZRH. Three scores were calculated for participants' knowledge, attitude, and acceptance to COVID-19 vaccination. These scores were compared to many sample factors using binary logistic regression and the chi-square test. The study recruited 233 participants. Most participants (31.3%) relied on social media for Covid-19 vaccine information. Poor Covid-19 vaccine knowledge (71.2%), negative attitudes (76.8%), and low acceptance rate (38.6%) were observed. Multivariate analysis showed that greater acceptance was positively associated with having a chronic illness (AOR = 3.21, CI 1.448-7.123, P = 0.004), stronger vaccine attitudes (AOR = 1.26, CI 1.149-1.368, P = 0.015), better vaccine knowledge (AOR = 2.70, CI 2.587-2.810, P = 0.005), and prior vaccination history (AOR = 0.13, CI 0.068-0.183, P = 0.000). Conversely, preference for natural immunity (AOR = 0.42, CI 0.341-0.498, P = 0.018), and not yet being vaccinated (AOR = 0.67, CI 0.594-0.755, P = 0.000) were all linked to lower acceptance. Pregnant women exhibited low knowledge, attitude, and acceptance to COVID-19 vaccines. Misinformation about the COVID-19 vaccine causes pause. Education on COVID-19 vaccination is needed to enhance vaccine uptake among pregnant women. This group must comprehend COVID-19 immunization importance, safety, and efficacy.
截至2022年8月8日，新冠疫情已在全球造成约5.8亿例感染和640万人死亡，其中非洲有870万例（173,063人死亡）。2022年7月，东非报告了139万例病例。截至2022年8月8日，坦桑尼亚确诊37,865例，841人死亡。尽管全球已接种数十亿剂疫苗，但坦桑尼亚只有17.6%的人完全接种。有症状的孕妇面临的死亡风险比未怀孕女性高70%。因此，本研究旨在评估姆贝亚地区孕妇对新冠疫苗的知识、态度和接受情况。在姆贝亚地区转诊医院的妇产科进行了一项描述性横断面研究。为参与者的新冠疫苗知识、态度和接受情况计算了三个分数。使用二元逻辑回归和卡方检验将这些分数与许多样本因素进行比较。该研究招募了233名参与者。大多数参与者（31.3%）依靠社交媒体获取新冠疫苗信息。观察到新冠疫苗知识水平低（71.2%）、态度消极（76.8%）和接受率低（38.6%）的情况。多变量分析表明，更高的接受度与患有慢性病（优势比=3.21，置信区间1.448 - 7.123，P = 0.004）、更强的疫苗态度（优势比=1.26，置信区间1.149 - 1.368，P = 0.015）、更好的疫苗知识（优势比=2.70，置信区间2.587 - 2.810，P = 0.005）以及既往接种史（优势比=0.13，置信区间0.068 - 0.183，P = 0.000）呈正相关。相反，对自然免疫的偏好（优势比=0.42，置信区间0.341 - 0.498，P = 0.018）以及尚未接种疫苗（优势比=0.67，置信区间0.594 - 0.755，P = 0.000）都与较低的接受度相关。孕妇对新冠疫苗的知识、态度和接受度较低。关于新冠疫苗的错误信息令人担忧。需要开展新冠疫苗接种教育，以提高孕妇的疫苗接种率。这一群体必须了解新冠疫苗接种的重要性、安全性和有效性。
