Perceptions of recommended vaccinations before and during pregnancy among women – analysis of the influence of health locus of control and coronavirus anxiety

Introduction and Objective.There is a growing number of people who are negative towards vaccination.Opponents of vaccination uptake can also be found in the group of pregnant women.In order to properly prepare for pregnancy and to protect her offspring from the negative effects of certain diseases, a woman should receive the vaccinations.The aim of this study was to investigate women's perceptions of recommended immunizations before and during pregnancy, focusing on the impact of their health locus of control and apprehensions regarding COVID-19.Materials and Method.The study was conducted among 144 patients of the Department of Obstetrics, Pregnancy Pathology and Gynaecology.A self-administered questionnaire, the Multidimensional Health Locus of Control Scale (MHLC) version A and the Coronavirus Anxiety Scale (CAS) were used.Results.Women's attitudes towards immunization turned out to be mostly positive.When deciding to vaccinate during the planning period of pregnancy and during pregnancy, respondents were primarily motivated by the safety of the child, and declined mainly due to lack of knowledge/information about vaccination possibilities.The level of perceived fear of coronavirus influenced the decision to vaccinate against COVID-19 during the preconception period, while it did not influence the decision to vaccinate during pregnancy.Conclusions.Despite the many proven advantages of vaccinating pregnant women, fears related to insufficient research on vaccine safety lead many pregnant women to refrain from vaccination.It is advisable to increase the emphasis on the dissemination of knowledge on recommended vaccinations during the preconception period and during pregnancy.Doctors and midwives who care for women should play a central role in this regard.