A new study published in February 2025 in The Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal has revealed that more antenatal clinic visits lead to higher vaccination uptake among pregnant women in Uganda. This follows the latest study titled Sociodemographic Factors Associated With Established and Novel Antenatal Vaccination Uptake in a Cohort of Pregnant Women in Uganda.
The study, conducted between September 1, 2020, and February 24, 2022, found that 86% of unvaccinated mothers attended fewer than four antenatal visits, while 56% of vaccinated women attended four or more showing a strong link between more clinic visits and higher vaccination uptake.
Participants were selected from Kawempe National Referral Hospital, where COVID-19 vaccines were made available to pregnant women. The study involved 125 different parishes, with 95% of the participants residing in Kampala or the neighboring Wakiso District.
In addition to the impact of antenatal visits, the study found that older women were more likely to be vaccinated, with 12% of women aged 35 and older receiving the COVID-19 vaccine, compared to just 8% of those under 18. Women in managerial or professional occupations and those with higher levels of education were also more likely to have received the vaccine.
While sociodemographic factors such as age, employment, and education were associated with vaccine uptake, the study called for further qualitative research to understand the reasons behind the lower uptake of the COVID-19 vaccine among willing women. The researchers recommend developing targeted interventions to communicate the safety and benefits of newer maternal vaccines.
The researchers also noted that antenatal care provides a vital opportunity to promote vaccine uptake adding that “antenatal care episodes are a key route for health promotion for all vaccines.”
Despite the relatively high vaccine coverage in Uganda, the study’s authors stressed that more work is needed to ensure that new maternal vaccines lead to a reduction in neonatal and child mortality. “While good coverage can be achieved in low-resource settings, much more work remains to be done to ensure that future advancements in vaccinology, as well as the introduction of new vaccines during pregnancy, are effectively implemented,” the study concluded.
The study was conducted by a team of experts, including Sturrock, Sarah MBBS, BSc; Davies, Hannah MBChB, PhD; Rukundo, Gordon MSc; Komugisha, Cleophas BSc; Kipyeko, Sam RN; Nakabembe, Eve MD; Mboizi, Robert MBChB, MSc; Sekikubo, Musa MBChB, MMed, PhD; and Le Doare, Kirsty MBBS, BSc, PhD.
Read more about the study here: https://bit.ly/4bww2x4
By Joseph Odoi
Image Credit: CDC