Ymba A, Perrey C. Acceptability of tetanus toxoid vaccine by pregnant women in two health centres in Abidjan (Ivory Coast), Vaccine, 2003 ; vol 21, 24: 3497-3500.
A study was conducted in two health centres in Abidjan, Ivory Coast (Abobo and Port Bouet) to compare the knowledge of pregnant women regarding tetanus and hepatitis B and to evaluate the acceptability of tetanus immunisation. A total of 124 women were interviewed. In spite of Information Education Communication (IEC) meetings held by midwives focusing on both diseases, knowledge about tetanus appeared to be substantially higher than that about hepatitis B. The acceptability of tetanus toxoid vaccine was good, the only barrier being the fear of useless injections. However, the risk of tetanus transmission during delivery should be better explained to women, who often give birth at home in the presence of traditional birth assistants. The awareness of men should also be raised by information campaigns, using different local networks.