System Maintenance Notice

Please note that maintenance work is scheduled between 4 AM and 5 AM - CET. During this time, you may experience reduced performance. Thanks for your patience.

Publications

Journal Article Epublish

PubMed: 42902272 DOI: 10.1186/s12884-026-09708-8

Acceptability and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant and lactating women seeking services at a tertiary public hospital in Kampala, Uganda.

BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 26(1)

Authors: Elizabeth B Katana, Eva Agnes Laker Odongpiny, Brenda N Simbwa, Edirisa J Nsubuga, Josephine Namayanja, Richard Muhindo, Daniel Kiiza, Barbara Castelnuovo, Alex R Ario, Catriona Waitt

Affiliations

  • Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Infectious Diseases Institute, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Uganda National Institute of Public Health, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Uganda National Expanded Programme on Immunization, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
  • National Public Health Emergency Operations Centre, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda.
  • Department of Women's and Children's Health, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.

Abstract

BACKGROUND

Globally, several vaccines, including COVID-19 vaccines, have been routinely recommended during pregnancy and lactation. However, data on COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and uptake among pregnant and lactating women are limited in Sub-Saharan Africa. While COVID-19 is no longer a public health emergency it is important to take stock of lessons learnt to prepare for future health threats including those that disproportionately affect pregnant/lactating women. We aimed to assess acceptability and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines among pregnant and lactating women in Uganda.

METHODS

This was a cross-sectional study conducted among 424 pregnant and lactating women, who were seeking maternal and child health care at Kawempe National Referral Hospital in Kampala conducted between May and July 2023. We obtained data on vaccine acceptability defined as willingness to accept vaccines using interviewer-administered questionnaires. In addition, we assessed vaccination status. Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptability and uptake were evaluated using modified Poisson regression.

RESULTS

The mean age of the respondents was 26.9 years (SD = 5.7), ranging from 14 to 45 years. Among 424 respondents, 51.6% had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine, 94.1% had received tetanus toxoid vaccine, and 48.4% regardless of their vaccination status, were willing to receive COVID-19 vaccines. Only 5/212(2.4%) had received COVID-19 vaccines while lactating with none having been received during pregnancy. Factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine uptake included history of testing for COVID-19 (aPR = 1.92, CI:1.46-2.54) and having a vaccinated household member (aPR = 1.34, CI:1.03-1.84). COVID-19 vaccine willingness was significantly associated with being a household head (aPR = 2.2, CI:1.12-4.27) and having a vaccinated household member (aPR = 1.33, CI:1.04-1.76).

CONCLUSION

COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among pregnant and lactating women remains suboptimal despite high acceptance of other maternal vaccines. These findings highlight the need for targeted interventions to improve the acceptance and uptake of COVID-19 vaccines, during pregnancy and lactation. Strengthening risk communication, addressing safety concerns, and leveraging trusted sources of information may enhance vaccine confidence and improve uptake during pregnancy and lactation.

MeSH

Pregnancy, Lactation, Vaccines, Covid-19 Vaccines, Hospitals, Public, Vaccination, Covid-19