Vaccination during pregnancy : Knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KABs)
Interactive data visualization of knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KABs) about vaccination during pregnancy.
- Last updated: 2024-09-16
This tab presents data on knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs (KABs) on pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza (flu) vaccination during pregnancy. The interactive chart on this page shows how KABs vary across the provinces and territories and by different social and demographic factors.
Definitions of pertussis (whooping cough) and influenza (flu)
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Pertussis is a contagious bacterial infection of the lungs and airways. It causes serious coughing fits that can lead to choking or vomiting. Without treatment, pertussis can last for weeks or months, and can cause brain damage or even death. Pertussis is particularly serious and most dangerous in infants and young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination or are unvaccinated or under-vaccinated.
- Influenza (flu)
- Influenza is a contagious viral respiratory infection. While most people recover from influenza within a week, severe illness can occur. Some groups, including pregnant individuals, are at a greater risk of influenza-related complications. In Canada, influenza is ranked among the top 10 leading causes of death.
Views on pertussis and influenza vaccination during pregnancy
To explore their views on pertussis and influenza vaccination during pregnancy, surveyed individuals were asked if they agreed or disagreed with a number of statements, referred to as KAB statements, regarding these vaccinations.
Figure 1. Percentage of respondents who answered 'Agree', 'Disagree', or 'Don't Know' to KAB statements related to vaccination during pregnancy
The figure will update based on the dropdown selections. For help with interpreting what you see, hover over the bars. To show or hide the agree, disagree, or don’t know responses on the figure, click on them in the legend located below the figure.
Data source: Survey on Vaccination during Pregnancy, 2019 and 2021
Download data (.zip)Notes on the data
- “Agreed” responses were derived by combining “Strongly agree” and “Somewhat agree” responses, while “Disagreed” responses were derived by combining “Strongly disagree” and “Somewhat disagree” responses.
- KAB statements were asked to all SVP participants; those who did not state an answer when presented with a KAB statement were excluded from the analysis.
- In the 2019 SVP, survey participants were not provided with a "Don't know" response option when presented with KAB statements related to influenza vaccination during pregnancy.
Figure 1 — Text description
Percentage of respondents who answered 'Agree', 'Disagree', or 'Don't Know' to KAB statements related to vaccination during pregnancy
Data source: Survey on Vaccination during Pregnancy, 2019 and 2021
E Estimates and confidence intervals are of marginal quality due to high sampling variability, and should be used with caution
F Estimates have been suppressed becuase they do not meet quality and/or confidentiality standards
↑ Rounds up to whole number
↓ Rounds down to whole number
— No data to show
Views on pertussis vaccination during pregnancy
In both 2019 and 2021, the majority of respondents held mostly positive views on pertussis vaccination during pregnancy. However, the overall (Canada-wide) percentage of respondents providing with “Don’t know” responses when presented with KAB statements related to pertussis vaccination during pregnancy ranged from 24.1% to 50.4% in 2019 and from 22.8% to 52.6% in 2021, indicating the existence of knowledge gaps.
Nationally, between 2019 and 2021, views on pertussis vaccination during pregnancy improved, as evidenced by overall increases in the percentage of respondents who agreed with KAB statements reflecting positive views, as well as increases in the percentage of those who disagreed with statements expressing negative views. For example, the percentage of respondents who agreed that receiving the pertussis vaccine during pregnancy is safe for the mother increased by 22% (from 60.5% in 2019 to 73.8% in 2021) and the percentage of those who disagreed that vaccination against pertussis during pregnancy could be harmful for the fetus increased by over 26% (from 43.5% in 2019 to 55.0% in 2021).
Additionally, between 2019 and 2021, there were significant declines in the percentage of respondents who demonstrated a lack of knowledge on the subject of pertussis vaccination in pregnancy, defined as individuals who answered “Don't know” when presented with KAB statements. For example, the percentage of participants who didn’t know if pertussis vaccination during pregnancy protects the baby declined by 30% (from 44.4% in 2019 to 31.1% in 2021) and those who didn’t know if it was safe for the mother declined by 35% (from 34.9% in 2019 to 22.8% in 2021).
Views on influenza vaccination during pregnancy
In both 2019 and 2021, the majority of respondents held mostly positive views on influenza vaccination during pregnancy. Nevertheless, a noteworthy percentage of respondents answered “Don’t know” when presented with KAB statements related to influenza vaccination during pregnancy, indicating the presence of knowledge gaps. In 2021, the overall (Canada-wide) percentage of “Don’t know” responses to KAB statements ranged from 11.7% to 53.9%, depending on the statement. This indicates that there may be a need for more education about the benefits of receiving the influenza vaccine while pregnant.
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