Maternal Influenza Vaccination: Evaluation of a Patient-Centered Pamphlet Designed to Increase Uptake in Pregnancy

Abstract

We developed and tested a theoretically-based pamphlet entitled ‘Influenza in Pregnancy,’ specifically designed to increase pregnant women’s knowledge, reduce barriers to maternal vaccination, and subsequently improve vaccine uptake. A randomized control trial was conducted on pregnant women (n = 135) at three locations in Connecticut during the 2011–2012 season to evaluate the impact of the patient-centered pamphlet. The women were randomized to one of three groups: the pamphlet; pamphlet/benefit statement (vaccinating the pregnant woman also benefits the young infant); or control. A Chi square analysis compared the intervention with control using the primary outcome of vaccination. A secondary outcome of the perceptions of health beliefs of maternal vaccination were measured through General Linear Model/ANOVA model for repeated measures. Overall 66.9 % (89/133) were vaccinated. Both the pamphlet group 72.9 % (35/48) (χ² = 6.81, df = 1 p = .009), and the pamphlet/benefit statement group 86.1 % (31/36) (χ² = 13.74, df = 1, p p p