Determinants of influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women: Demographics and medical care access

ObjectiveTo investigate how sociodemographic and medical care access variables are associated with influenza vaccine uptake among pregnant women in the USA. MethodsThis is an observational study using 2015-2019 data from the US Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. Pregnant women aged 18-49 years were included. Weighted chi(2) tests and weighted logistic regression models were performed using the software SAS. ResultsA total of 9149 pregnant women were included, of whom 39.9% received the influenza vaccine. Age, income, education and race/ethnicity were significantly associated with influenza vaccination. The following medical access factors were associated with a higher likelihood of receiving the influenza vaccine: having insurance (odds ratio [OR] 1.43, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.97), having had a checkup in the past year (OR 1.69, 95% CI 1.40-2.03), and having a primary care provider (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.18-1.78). In subgroup analysis by race/ethnicity, non-Hispanic black women had the least difference in influenza vaccine uptake between those with medical care access and those without. ConclusionOur findings suggest that the influenza vaccine uptake level was far from optimal among pregnant women. Influenza vaccine uptake was associated with social demographics and medical care access among pregnant women.