INFLUENCE OF MATERNAL VACCINE ATTITUDES AND BELIEFS ON NEONATAL IMMUNITY: A PROSPECTIVE COHORT ANALYSIS
Keywords:
Maternal Attitudes, Vaccination Beliefs, Newborn Immunity, Antibody Levels, Vaccine-Preventable Diseases, Immunization Rates, Public HealthAbstract
This prospective cohort study investigated the influence of maternal attitudes and beliefs regarding vaccination on newborn immunity at Swat Medical College and its affiliated teaching hospitals from 2022 to June 2024. A total of 300 pregnant women were enrolled, and their vaccination-related beliefs were assessed using a structured questionnaire. Newborn immunity was evaluated by measuring antibody levels against key vaccine-preventable diseases at six months of age.
The results revealed that positive maternal attitudes toward vaccination were significantly associated with higher antibody titers in newborns (p < 0.01). Moreover, factors such as higher maternal education, prior vaccination experiences, and greater exposure to vaccination-related information were positively correlated with favorable maternal attitudes.
These findings underscore the pivotal role of maternal perceptions in influencing neonatal immune outcomes and emphasize the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance vaccination awareness among expectant mothers. Strengthening maternal vaccine literacy could contribute substantially to improved immunization coverage and better newborn health outcomes
