Prevalence and predictors of vaccine hesitancy among expectant mothers in Enugu metropolis, South-east Nigeria

Vaccine hesitancy, defined as delay in acceptance or refusal of vaccines despite availability of vaccinations services, constrains control of vaccine-preventable diseases. This study determined the prevalence and correlates of vaccine hesitancy among pregnant women attending a university teaching hospital in Enugu metropolis, South-east Nigeria using cross-sectional survey and parent attitudes about childhood vaccines (PACV) questionnaire. We dichotomised the 256 expectant mother participants into hesitant and non-hesitant categories using median PACV and sub-scale scores. Overall, 31.6% of participants were hesitant. About 17.6%, 14.8%, and 30.9% of mothers were hesitant due to their vaccination behaviour, beliefs about vaccine safety and efficacy, and general attitudes and trust of service providers, respectively. Mothers aged less than 30 years were three times more likely to be vaccine hesitant than older ones. Public health practitioners should target young, expectant mothers by developing and conducting vaccine hesitancy screening, focused health education, and information campaigns. The prevalence of childhood vaccine hesitancy among expectant mothers is high. Younger expectant mothers are more likely to be vaccine hesitant than older ones. Involvement of maternal health service workers to provide vaccine literacy and to support expectant mothers to make informed decision about childhood vaccination might be helpful in reducing vaccine hesitancy.