Post-Pandemic Maternity Care Planning for Vaccination: A Qualitative Study of the Experiences of Women, Partners, Health Care Professionals, and Policy Makers in the United Kingdom
Tisha Dasgupta,
Harriet Boulding,
Abigail Easter,
Tania Sutedja,
Asma Khalil,
Hiten D. Mistry,
Gillian Horgan,
Aricca D. Van Citters,
Eugene C. Nelson,
Peter von Dadelszen,
Emma L. Duncan,
The RESILIENT Study Group,
Sergio A. Silverio,
Laura A. Magee
Affiliations
Tisha Dasgupta
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Harriet Boulding
The Policy Institute, Faculty of Social Science & Public Policy, King’s College London, London WC2B 6LE, UK
Abigail Easter
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Tania Sutedja
The RESILIENT Study Patient & Public Involvement & Engagement Advisory Group, UK
Asma Khalil
Fetal Medicine Unit, St. George’s University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London SW17 0QT, UK
Hiten D. Mistry
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Gillian Horgan
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Aricca D. Van Citters
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
Eugene C. Nelson
The Dartmouth Institute for Health Policy & Clinical Practice, Geisel School of Medicine, Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03756, USA
Peter von Dadelszen
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Emma L. Duncan
Department of Twin Research & Genetic Epidemiology, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
The RESILIENT Study Group
The RESILIENT Study Group, UK
Sergio A. Silverio
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Laura A. Magee
Department of Women & Children’s Health, School of Life Course & Population Sciences, King’s College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
Maternal vaccination during pregnancy, in general and against COVID-19 infection, offers protection to both mother and baby, but uptake remains suboptimal. This study aimed to explore the perceptions regarding COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy, particularly for marginalised populations and those living with social or medical complexity. A total of 96 semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with 40 women, 15 partners, 21 HCPs, and 20 policy makers, across all four nations of the United Kingdom (UK), discussing their lived experience of utilising, delivering, or developing policy for COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy during the pandemic. Three themes were derived: (1) historical and social context, (2) communication of information and guidance, and (3) appraisal and action. Together these captured the participants’ legacy of mistrust in drugs during pregnancy; prior positive experiences; concerns about missing information, conflicting information, or false information about COVID-19 vaccines; and confusing guidance for pregnant women. The final theme describes the participants’ behaviour and actions undertaken consequent to their experiences and the available information. The findings suggest efforts to improve COVID-19 vaccination in pregnancy may be best focused on personalised communication of information. A trusting relationship and prior positive experiences with other vaccines, both in and outside of pregnancy, positively influenced perceptions of COVID-19 vaccination.
