Midwives’ perceptions and experiences of recommending and delivering vaccinations to pregnant women following the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Midwives’ perceptions and experiences of recommending and delivering vaccinations to pregnant women following the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study
Background: pregnant women and their unborn babies are at an increased risk of hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality from illness. However, uptake of influenza, pertussis and Covid-19 vaccinations offered during pregnancy is below the desired rate. This research aims to explore UK midwives’ experiences of approaching and discussing vaccinations with pregnant women, and their perceived role in pregnant women's vaccination decisions.
Methods: midwives in the West Midlands, UK were recruited via participating hospitals and midwife specific social media groups. Interviews were conducted remotely from April to July 2023 and analysed with a deductive codebook coding strategy using thematic analysis.
Findings: semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 midwives identifying the following key themes: Recommendations to have vaccinations reported on the contents of recommendations and how they are communicated; Messages and guidance included the importance of up-to-date informational needs for midwives to administer vaccinations and the barriers caused by uncertainty and conflicting messages about the Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy; Delivery of vaccinations included the convenience of offering vaccinations during standard antenatal appointments; and Midwives’ barriers explored the pandemic specific and other barriers midwives face in the administering of vaccinations.
Discussion: these findings contribute to the understanding of how midwives discuss the topic of vaccinations with pregnant women. This research highlights the importance for midwives to receive clear and consistent information. A strong emphasis on why vaccines are important when recommending to pregnant women in addition to standard information on the availability and timing may have a bearing in helping women to make informed decisions about accepting vaccinations.
Antenatal, Covid-19, Midwife, Pregnancy, Qualitative research, Vaccination
Grimley, Catherine
813531d5-e9be-4fb8-a94d-e4bd8f256dbd
Atherton, Helen
9bb8932e-7bb7-4781-ab97-114613de99b1
Bick, Debra
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Clarke, Louise
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Hillman, Sarah
420a28f6-fc83-4fd0-9206-94c4b8575ab8
Parsons, Jo
a0ecd433-2fc5-45c1-ab3c-58c1cb28f281
6 October 2024
Grimley, Catherine
813531d5-e9be-4fb8-a94d-e4bd8f256dbd
Atherton, Helen
9bb8932e-7bb7-4781-ab97-114613de99b1
Bick, Debra
18ec34f3-7e1b-47c6-a6e2-949a00bac1c6
Clarke, Louise
7708ad54-5c98-4a2b-b9b9-ba3221810f67
Hillman, Sarah
420a28f6-fc83-4fd0-9206-94c4b8575ab8
Parsons, Jo
a0ecd433-2fc5-45c1-ab3c-58c1cb28f281
Grimley, Catherine, Atherton, Helen, Bick, Debra, Clarke, Louise, Hillman, Sarah and Parsons, Jo
(2024)
Midwives’ perceptions and experiences of recommending and delivering vaccinations to pregnant women following the Covid-19 pandemic: a qualitative study.
Midwifery, 140, [104206].
(doi:10.1016/j.midw.2024.104206).
Abstract
Background: pregnant women and their unborn babies are at an increased risk of hospitalisation, morbidity, and mortality from illness. However, uptake of influenza, pertussis and Covid-19 vaccinations offered during pregnancy is below the desired rate. This research aims to explore UK midwives’ experiences of approaching and discussing vaccinations with pregnant women, and their perceived role in pregnant women's vaccination decisions.
Methods: midwives in the West Midlands, UK were recruited via participating hospitals and midwife specific social media groups. Interviews were conducted remotely from April to July 2023 and analysed with a deductive codebook coding strategy using thematic analysis.
Findings: semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 midwives identifying the following key themes: Recommendations to have vaccinations reported on the contents of recommendations and how they are communicated; Messages and guidance included the importance of up-to-date informational needs for midwives to administer vaccinations and the barriers caused by uncertainty and conflicting messages about the Covid-19 vaccine during pregnancy; Delivery of vaccinations included the convenience of offering vaccinations during standard antenatal appointments; and Midwives’ barriers explored the pandemic specific and other barriers midwives face in the administering of vaccinations.
Discussion: these findings contribute to the understanding of how midwives discuss the topic of vaccinations with pregnant women. This research highlights the importance for midwives to receive clear and consistent information. A strong emphasis on why vaccines are important when recommending to pregnant women in addition to standard information on the availability and timing may have a bearing in helping women to make informed decisions about accepting vaccinations.
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More information
Accepted/In Press date: 1 October 2024
e-pub ahead of print date: 2 October 2024
Published date: 6 October 2024
Keywords:
Antenatal, Covid-19, Midwife, Pregnancy, Qualitative research, Vaccination
Identifiers
Local EPrints ID: 495186
URI: http://eprints.soton.ac.uk/id/eprint/495186
ISSN: 0266-6138
PURE UUID: 5ef1e4db-9901-4f60-a179-9ae2b3b0d6ba
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Date deposited: 31 Oct 2024 17:36
Last modified: 06 Nov 2024 03:11
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Contributors
Author:
Catherine Grimley
Author:
Helen Atherton
Author:
Debra Bick
Author:
Louise Clarke
Author:
Sarah Hillman
Author:
Jo Parsons
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