title: Prenatal care providers and influenza prevention and treatment: lessons from the field.
abstract: To better understand the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of providers regarding influenza infection and vaccination in pregnancy, fourteen focus groups were conducted among 92 providers in Atlanta, GA; Dallas, TX; and Portland, OR in late 2009. NVivo 8.0 was used for analysis. Most providers had no experience with pregnant women severely affected by influenza. Many perceived the 2009 H1N1 pandemic to be limited and mild. Providers knew that pregnant women should receive the 2009 H1N1 vaccine and reported plans to vaccinate more patients than the previous season. Most knew CDC guidelines for antiviral treatment and prophylaxis, but some reported hesitancy with presumptive treatment. Although awareness of influenza's potential to cause severe illness in pregnant women was observed, providers' experience and comfort with influenza prevention and treatment was suboptimal. Sustained efforts to educate prenatal care providers about influenza in pregnancy through trusted channels are critical.
authors.affiliation: SciMetrika, LLC, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. pgm5@cdc.gov
authors.forename: Patricia W
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Mersereau
authors.forename: Christine M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Layton
authors.forename: Lucia Rojas
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Juliette S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Kendrick
authors.forename: Elizabeth W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.forename: Jacqueline B
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Amoozegar
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Williams
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000998:Antiviral Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003153:Community Health Services; D005260:Female; D017144:Focus Groups; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D053118:Influenza A Virus, H1N1 Subtype; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D010465:Perception; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000821:virology; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014611:Vaccination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000998:Antiviral Agents; D007252:Influenza Vaccines