Determinants of Tetanus Toxoid Vaccination Use among Pregnant Women

Abstract: Tetanus or trismus is an infection triggered by Clostridium tetani. Socio demographic
characteristics, obstetric history, as well as knowledge and attitudes of pregnant women can be
determinants of tetanus toxoid vaccination use among pregnant women. Despite widespread
availability and safety of tetanus toxoid vaccine, little is known about determinants of its use
among pregnant women. Aim of the study: was to identify determinants of tetanus toxoid
vaccination use among pregnant women. Subjects and Method: Design: A cross sectional study
design was used to implement this study. Setting: This study was conducted at out-patients'
clinics of obstetrics departments of: Tanta University Hospitals, El-Menshawy General Hospital,
El-Mogamaa El-Teby Hospital, Doctor Mohamed Mashally Medical Center at Said and Medical
Center at Segar. Subjects: A purposive sample of 300 pregnant women was selected from the
previously mentioned settings. Tools of data collection: Three tools were used for data
collection: Tool I: Pregnant women's socio demographic characteristics and obstetrics’ history
questionnaire, Tool II: Pregnant women's knowledge regarding tetanus and tetanus toxoid
vaccination questionnaire, and Tool (III): Pregnant women’s attitudes regarding tetanus toxoid
vaccination questionnaire. Results: The study proved that nearly two thirds of the studied
pregnant women had low level of knowledge regarding tetanus and tetanus toxoid vaccination
with negative attitudes among more than one half of them and three quarter had no information
about benefits of tetanus toxoid vaccination. The studied pregnant women who were more
careful to take the vaccine aged less than 25 years to less than 35 years old, and those who were
still pregnant or primipara. Conclusion: Age, gravidity, parity, as well as knowledge, and
attitudes were determinants of tetanus toxoid vaccination use among pregnant women.
Recommendations: Knowledge, attitudes, age, gravidity, and parity should be carefully
assessed especially by maternity nurses. Educational programs during pregnancy should focus on
enhancing knowledge and attitude of pregnant women regarding tetanus toxoid vaccination use
to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality and morbidity rates.