Document Type
Article
Publication Date
10-24-2019
Publication Title
BMC Health Services Research
Publisher
BMC
Volume
19
First page number:
1
Last page number:
13
Abstract
Background Pregnant women and newborns are at high risk for infectious diseases. Altered immunity status during pregnancy and challenges fully vaccinating newborns contribute to this medical reality. Maternal immunization is a strategy to protect pregnant women and their newborns. This study aimed to find out how patient-provider relationships affect maternal vaccine uptake, particularly in the context of a lower middle- income country where limited research in this area exists. Methods We conducted semi-structured, in-depth narrative interviews of both providers and pregnant women from four sites in Kenya: Siaya, Nairobi, Mombasa, and Marsabit. Interviews were conducted in either English or one of the local regional languages. Results We found that patient trust in health care providers (HCPs) is integral to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. The HCP-patient relationship is a fiduciary one, whereby the patients’ trusts is primarily rooted in the provider’s social position as a person who is highly educated in matters of health. Furthermore, patient health education and provider attitudes are crucial for reinstating and fostering that trust, especially in cases where trust was impeded by rumors, community myths and misperceptions, and religious and cultural factors. Conclusion Patient trust in providers is a strong facilitator contributing to vaccine acceptance among pregnant women in Kenya. To maintain and increase immunization trust, providers have a critical role in cultivating a positive environment that allows for favorable interactions and patient health education. This includes educating providers on maternal immunizations and enhancing knowledge of effective risk communication tactics in clinical encounters.
Keywords
Maternal immunization; Health care providers; Pregnant women; Kenya; Attitudes; Developing countries
Disciplines
Immunology and Infectious Disease | International Public Health | Maternal and Child Health
File Format
File Size
562 KB
Language
English
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Repository Citation
Nganga, S. W.,
Otieno, N. A.,
Adero, M.,
Ouma, D.,
Chaves, S. S.,
Verani, J. R.,
Widdowson, M.,
Wilson, A.,
Bergenfeld, I.,
Andrews, C.,
Fenimore, V. L.,
Gonzalez-Casanova, I.,
Frew, P. M.,
Omer, S. B.,
Malik, F. A.
(2019).
Patient and Provider Perspectives on How Trust Influences Maternal Vaccine Acceptance Among Pregnant Women in Kenya.
BMC Health Services Research, 19
1-13.
BMC.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4537-8
Included in
Immunology and Infectious Disease Commons, International Public Health Commons, Maternal and Child Health Commons