Influences on COVID-19 Vaccine Adherence among Pregnant Women: The Role of Internet Access and Pre-Vaccination Emotions

Rosângela Carvalho de Sousa, Maria Juliene Lima da Silva, Maria Rita Fialho do Nascimento, Mayara da Cruz Silveira, Franciane de Paula Fernandes, Tatiane Costa Quaresma, Simone Aguiar da Silva Figueira, Maria Goreth Silva Ferreira, Adjanny Estela Santos de Souza, Waldiney Pires Moraes, Sheyla Mara Silva de Oliveira and Livia de Aguiar Valentim ()
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Rosângela Carvalho de Sousa: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Maria Juliene Lima da Silva: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Maria Rita Fialho do Nascimento: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Mayara da Cruz Silveira: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Franciane de Paula Fernandes: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Tatiane Costa Quaresma: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Simone Aguiar da Silva Figueira: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Maria Goreth Silva Ferreira: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Adjanny Estela Santos de Souza: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Waldiney Pires Moraes: Institute of Public Health—(ISCO), Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Santarém 68040-255, PA, Brazil
Sheyla Mara Silva de Oliveira: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil
Livia de Aguiar Valentim: Center for Biological and Health Sciences, State University of Pará-UEPA, Campus XII, Santarém 68040-090, PA, Brazil

IJERPH, 2024, vol. 21, issue 6, 1-11

Abstract: Introduction: The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic brought about global uncertainties and fears, escalating the dissemination of fake news. This study aims to analyze the impact of fake news on COVID-19 vaccine adherence among pregnant women, providing crucial insights for effective communication strategies during the pandemic. Methods: A cross-sectional, exploratory study was conducted with 113 pregnant women under care at a Women’s Health Reference Center. Data analysis included relative frequency and odds ratio to assess the relationship between sociodemographic and behavioral variables regarding vaccination. Results: In the behavioral context of vaccination, internet access shows a significant association with decision-making, influencing vaccine refusal due to online information. Nuances in the odds ratios results highlight the complexity of vaccine hesitancy, emphasizing the importance of information quality. Pre-vaccination sentiments include stress (87.61%), fear (50.44%), and anxiety (40.7%), indicating the need for sensitive communication strategies. Discussion: Results revealed that pregnant women with higher education tend to adhere more to vaccination. Exposure to news about vaccine inefficacy had a subtle association with hesitancy, while finding secure sources was negatively associated with hesitancy. The behavioral complexity in the relationship between online information access and vaccination decision underscores the need for effective communication strategies. Conclusions: In the face of this challenging scenario, proactive strategies, such as developing specific campaigns for pregnant women, are essential. These should provide clear information, debunk myths, and address doubts. A user-centered approach, understanding their needs, is crucial. Furthermore, ensuring information quality and promoting secure sources are fundamental measures to strengthen trust in vaccination and enhance long-term public health.

Keywords: fake news; pregnant women; vaccine adherence (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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