References
Ethnicity, culture and COVID-19 vaccine behaviour in South Asian and Caucasian pregnant women
Abstract
Background/Aims
During the pandemic, COVID-19 vaccines were offered to pregnant women in the UK. Uptake was unequal across ethnic groups. This study aimed to explore attitudes, beliefs and decision-making processes in relation to the COVID-19 vaccine, focusing on ethnicity and cultural factors that may influence uptake.
Methods
This interpetive phenomenological study gathered qualitative data using semi-structured online interviews with 10 women who were pregnant during the pandemic. Data were analysed thematically.
Results
South Asian participants showed varying degrees of vaccine hesitancy, shaped by mistrust from broader systemic factors and inconsistent information, often amplified by media. In contrast, Caucasian participants generally exhibited greater vaccine confidence, driven by trust in healthcare professionals and satisfaction with accessible vaccine information.
Conclusions
There is a need to address hesitancy and healthcare mistrust in ethnic minority communities. Access to credible information and addressing specific concerns of pregnant women from diverse backgrounds are essential to achieving equitable health outcomes.
Implications for practice
Ethnicity and culture must be understood as individualised and context-specific experiences to avoid distrust and disconnect in maternity services. Embedding this from higher education through to research and ongoing in-house training is essential for safe and equitable care.
The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound global impact, drastically altering public health landscapes worldwide. By May 2023, over 769 million confirmed cases and nearly 7 million deaths had been reported (World Health Organization (WHO), 2023a). However, these numbers may not accurately reflect the full extent of the pandemic's impact, particularly in low-income countries where limited infrastructure and disparities in reporting have obscured the true toll of the pandemic (WHO, 2023b). In the UK, as observed globally, the pandemic exposed significant health disparities, particularly among ethnic minorities. Early waves saw mortality rates in Black African and South Asian groups that were notably higher than those in the White British population (Office for National Statistics, 2022). This trend highlights the vulnerability of these groups and persistent inequalities in health outcomes.
COVID-19 vaccine uptake mirrored these disparities, with lower participation rates observed in Black and ethnic minority communities, including South Asian populations. By November 2021, only one-third of Black African and Pakistani adults, and less than half of Bangladeshi adults, had received two doses of the vaccine, compared to 76% of the White British population (The King's Fund, 2022). These disparities underscore the need for a nuanced understanding of vaccine behaviour in these communities.
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