Abstract / Summary
Purpose: This study is aimed at evaluating postpartum women's vaccination status in two major maternity hospitals in Athens, Greece, and identifying demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral factors influencing vaccine acceptance.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Leto General Hospital and Alexandra Hospital. Postpartum women completed a questionnaire covering demographics, obstetric history, vaccination status (COVID-19, tetanus-diphtheria-acellular pertussis [Tdap], influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus [RSV]), and reasons for vaccine acceptance or refusal. Data were analyzed to assess the potential factors associated with vaccination uptake.
Results: A total of 725 postpartum women participated (Site 1: 531, Site 2: 194; median age: 34 years). Overall, 51.2% received at least one vaccine during pregnancy, with the highest uptake observed for Tdap (42.5%), followed by influenza (19.6%) and COVID-19 vaccination (3.6%). RSV vaccination was negligible (< 1%). Influenza vaccination was significantly higher in Site 1 (22.2%) compared with Site 2 (12.4%, p < 0.001), whereas uptake rates for the other vaccines did not differ significantly between sites. Key barriers to vaccination included lack of physician advice (Site 1: 29.0%, Site 2: 18.6%), personal choice (Site 1: 12.4%, Site 2: 14.9%), and safety concerns, which were more prevalent in Site 2. Higher educational attainment and urban residence remained independently associated with vaccine uptake, after adjustment for potential confounding factors.
Conclusion: Maternal immunization in Greece still remains a great challenge, since only 14.62% of the studied sample received multiple vaccines. Enhancing immunization strategies necessitates targeted interventions that address provider-patient communication, systemic barriers, and perceptions of vaccine safety in order to improve adherence to recommended vaccination schedules.