title: Missed opportunities: a national survey of obstetricians about attitudes on maternal and infant immunization.
abstract: The recent reoccurrence of several vaccine-preventable diseases demonstrates the need for new techniques to promote childhood vaccination. Many mothers make decisions regarding vaccination of their children during pregnancy. As a result, obstetricians have a unique opportunity to influence maternal decisions on this crucial component of child health. Our objective was to understand OB/GYNs' attitudes, beliefs, and current practices toward providing vaccinations to pregnant patients and providing information about routine childhood immunizations during standard prenatal care. We surveyed OB/GYNs in the United States about their vaccination practices and perceptions during the 2009 H1N1 outbreak. Most (84%) respondents indicated their practice would be administering H1N1 vaccines to pregnant patients. While a majority (98%) of responding providers felt childhood vaccination is important, relatively few (47%) felt that they could influence mothers' vaccination choices for their children. Discussion of routine childhood immunization between obstetricians and their patients is an area for future improvements in childhood vaccination.
authors.affiliation: Emory Preparedness and Emergency Response Research Center, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, 1518 Clifton Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA. ruthlg@gmail.com
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Link-Gelles
authors.forename: Allison T
authors.initials: AT
authors.lastname: Chamberlain
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schulkin
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ault
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Whitney
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Seib
authors.forename: Saad B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Omer
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D002648:Child; D003625:Data Collection; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D019538:Health Care Surveys; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D007115:Immunization Schedule; D007223:Infant; D007252:Influenza Vaccines / Q000008:administration & dosage; D007251:Influenza, Human / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D009774:Obstetrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010353:Patient Education as Topic; D010820:Physicians; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D011247:Pregnancy; D011251:Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / Q000517:prevention & control; D011295:Prenatal Care / Q000379:methods; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D007252:Influenza Vaccines