1. Missed Opportunities for Prenatal Immunization Education: The pediatric prenatal visit, routine obstetric care, and hospital education classes
Results of a survey we conducted on immunization education practices during the pediatric prenatal visit, routine obstetric care, and hostpial education classes
Ann Marie Navar, MHS
Institute for Vaccine Safety
Johns Hopkins School of Public Health

2. Significance
13% of parents report not having enough information to make “good decisions” about immunizations Gust AJPM 2005;29(2):105-12
New Hepatitis B birth dose recommendations ACIP December 2005
All healthy infants born to HBsAg - mothers
Parental concerns
25% worry about immune system weakening Gellin Pediatrics 2000;106(5):
ACIP recommendations- Dec at birth for infants born to women of unknown/+ HBsAg, medically stable infants over grams to HBsAg negative”
23% worried parents receive more immunziations than good for them; 25% worried about immune system weakening
Gellin 2000 pediatrics 1600, natl represent, 1999.
13% not have enough info to make “good decisions” about inz.
Gust ajpm 2005 HealthStyles survey indicates an unmet need for immunization education

3. Background
ACOG / AAP guidelines for prenatal are: no discussion of immunizations
AAP recommendations for prenatal visit: 1996 & 2001
No national data on prenatal visit
96.5% women have prenatal care by the 2nd trimester Hamilton. National Vital Statistics Reports (9)
Hospital class lifetime non-attendance for mothers: 34% Lu. MCH Journal 2003;7(2)
Idea that the prenatal period may be the time to fill this unmet need, as pregnant women are a more captive audience about child health topics.
Current literature suggested that this wasn’t being done.
AAP committee on psychosocial aspects of child and family health- 1996, breastfeeding, circumcision, feeding in, car safety, parenting, tobacco and alcohol.
Collaboration : guidelines for prenatal care prior to discharge” importance of maintaining newborn immunization, beginning with an initial dose of hepatitis B virus vaccine “ should be reviewed
1981- arizona physicians. ½… 1890 CT, new haven 91%
96.5% of women get prenatal care by 2nd trimester (i.e. 3.5% no or 3rd trimester only)
NCHS 2003

4. Determine the frequency of the pediatric prenatal visit
Objectives
Determine the frequency of the pediatric prenatal visit
Determine the percent of obstetricians that provide or are willing to provide information about immunizations to pregnant women
Determine the frequency immunization education in hospital based education practices

5. Methods
Telephone Survey: 100 pediatric practices, 100 obstetric practices + hospitals
Pediatric: 10 questions
Office prenatal visit policy, frequency
OB: 9 questions
Information given during prenatal care
Hospital: 11 questions
Information given as part of classes, proportion taking class

6. Obstetric Study Population
Office-based, with phone # in AMA Masterfile
Nationwide, random sample
132 numbers called in order of random #
17 bad numbers
2 no longer practicing
1 ID/neurology/travel medicine clinic
12 GYN only, specialists don’t deliver

7. Obstetric Study Population
Final sample=100 obstetric practices
308 MD, DO, NP, Midwives
30 States Represented
Response rate: 71% (n=71)

8. Obstetric Respondents
Nurse-23
Office manager-16
Other Administration-15
Medical Assistant-12
Doctor/Nurse Practitioner-5

9. Hospital Study Population
78 Hospitals Identified
Some OB’s Identified more than 1
28 States represented
Response rate=65% (n=55)

10. Pediatric Study Population
Office-based, with phone # in AMA Masterfile
Nationwide, random sample
126 numbers called in order of random #
14 bad #s
3 non-pediatricians
Emergency med, Internal Med, Family Med

11. Pediatric Study Population
Final sample=100 pediatric practices
33 States Represented
380 MD, DO, NP
Response rate: 85% (n=85)

12. Pediatric Respondents
Secretary/Receptionist-59
Office manager-11
Nurse-10
Nurse Supervisor-3
Doctor-2

13. Obstetric Practices Question Yes n (%) No Maybe/ Don’t know n (%)
Refer to Hospital-based Classes
n=71
60 (85)
10 (14)
1 (1)
Provide Information on Hepatitis B
23 (32)
42 (59)
6 (8)
Provide Information on other Vaccines
16 (23)
52 (73)
3 (4)

14. Obstetric Practices Not Providing Vaccine Information
Question
Yes
n (%) No
Maybe/ Don’t know n (%)
Willing to Provide Immunizatio Info
n=52 (no info on routine inz)
34 (65)
9 (17)
9 (18)
Provide info on other topics related to child health*
n=38 (no info on routine inz or hep b)
21 (54)
17 (44)
1 (3%)
6 maybe, 3 don’t know. Maybe.dont’know-18% Of 52 that do not provide info on other vaccines.
* Circumcision, Car Safety, Pets, Screening Tests, Cord Blood Banking, Literature from Pharmaceutical Companies, Formula Samples

15. Pediatric Practices Don’t Know/ Maybe n (%) 8 (13) 3 (8) Question
Yes n (%)
No n (%)
Offer a Prenatal Visit n=85
66 (78%)
19 (22)
Visit free n=63
50 (79%)
5 (8)
Discuss Vaccines n=38
21 (55)
14 (37)
Of 66 that offer a visit, 3 stopped. 63 continued. 8 don’t know
* Office policy, hours, practice characteristics, questions from the parent “selling the practice”

16. Pediatric Practices 27.5 minutes: Average duration of prenatal visit
Range: minutes
39%: Average proportion of 1st time mothers that get a visit in practices that offer a visit
Range: 0-99%
Larger practices more likely to offer a prenatal visit
1-2, 3-4, 5+ physicians (OR=6.1, p<0.001)

17. Number of practices reporting vs
Number of practices reporting vs. percent of 1st time mothers receiving a pediatric prenatal visit
Number of practices
Percent of 1st time mothers receive a prenatal visit

18. Hospital Classes
36% Number of class attendees/number of births at the hospital
86% Women are first-time mothers
35% Classes charge a fee
80% Hospitals provide information regarding routine immunizations in any class
74% Women take a class that includes information on immunizations

19. Limitations Respondents unsure of physician practices
OB: Clinical staff (physicians, nurses) less likely than non-clinical staff (office managers, receptionists) to report providing information about vaccines (OR=0.4, p=0.09)
OB: No difference in willingness (OR=1.3, p=0.73)

20. Limitations Respondents unsure of physician practices
Many “maybe/don’t know” responses
OB: Clinical staff (physicians, nurses) less likely than non-clinical staff (office managers, receptionists) to report providing information about vaccines (OR=0.4, p=0.09)
OB: No difference in willingness (OR=1.3, p=0.73)
Pediatricians: Clinical staff more likely to report vaccines discussed (OR=2.6, p=0.4)
Small sample size – large CI’s

21. Recommendations
Multiple opportunities to provide information about immunizations during routine prenatal care
Assess the utility of incorporate immunization information during routine obstetric prenatal care
Encourage a pediatric prenatal visit for mothers desiring more information about vaccines
Incorporate immunization education during prenatal visit hospital based education classes
New Hepatitis B recommendations as impetus for hospital classes/Obstetric practices

22. Thank you! Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health
Ann Marie Navar, MHS
Neal A. Halsey, MD
Martha M. Montgomery
University of Florida College of Medicine
Daniel A. Salmon, PhD
Terrell C. Carter, MHS