Amna Zeb, Syed Ali Hyder Zaidi, Imtiaz Jehan.
Knowledge, attitude and practices of reproductive age females about Tetanus Toxoid vaccine: a pilot study.
J Coll Physicians Surg Pak Jan ;16(12):791-3.

This study aimed to estimate the knowledge, attitude and practices of reproductive age females about TT vaccine and to find out means to improve TT vaccine outreach to them. A cross-sectional survey was conducted from April 1st to 30th 2004 at the Civil Hospital, Karachi. The study participants were healthy females of 15-45 years, attending the obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics clinics, selected for interview, using systematic sampling. The study questionnaire, after taking written informed consent. The questionnaire included demographic information, knowledge about TT vaccine, preventing maternal and neonatal tetanus; need to vaccinate women of 15-45 years and attitude of females toward TT vaccine. Other questions included source of information, total number of pregnancies and the number of TT doses with each pregnancy. Vaccination status was assessed as the number of TT doses received compared with the total number of full-term pregnancies. With one full-term pregnancy, two doses and with three, four doses are adequate and 5 doses are taken as complete vaccination course. Sixty participants were interviewed. All participants had regular EPI/LHW (Expanded Programme of Immunization/Lady Health Worker) visits to their houses throughout the year. The number of females who read newspapers and saw television was 20 [37%] and 37 [68.5%] respectively. The number of participants who had heard of TT vaccine was 32 [59.3%]. The knowledge about prevention of maternal and neonatal tetanus by TT vaccine is illustrated in Figure 1 along with the knowledge of vaccinating females of 15-45 years. None of the sources disseminated correct knowledge for maternal tetanus, neonatal tetanus and need to vaccinate females between ages 15-45, taken together. Inadequate knowledge was 26 [81.3%], followed by incorrect knowledge 4 [12.5%] and no knowledge 2 [6.3%]. Health related professionals which included general practitioners (GPs) and LHWS imparted 20 [77%] of the inadequate knowledge and media (television, newspapers and reading material like pamphlets) 11 [42.3%]. The choice to get TT vaccination was made by 26 [48.1%] of the participants whereas 28 [90.3%] had no concerns toward TT vaccination and 41 [83.7%] of the participants showed interest in improving their knowledge about TT vaccination. The number of females with 1-2 pregnancies was 19 [36.5%] whereas 15 [28.8%] had 3-4 and 5-8 pregnancies. Out of 54 respondents, 32 [61.5%] were vaccinated. Out of these 32 respondents, 13 [40.6%] were properly vaccinated and 19 [59.4%] were not properly vaccinated. The number of females who were vaccinated in their childhood for TT was 18 [33.3%].

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