The Obstetrician's Role in Pregnant Women's Decision-Making Process Regarding Influenza and COVID-19 Vaccination.

Pregnant women are considered to be a population vulnerable to influenza and COVID-19 infections, and the latest guidelines consistently recommend that they receive influenza and COVID-19 vaccinations. A cross-sectional questionnaire-based study was conducted among pregnant women in Poland to determine which factors have the greatest impact on their decision to vaccinate against influenza and COVID-19. A total of 515 pregnant women participated in the study. Among them, 38.4% (n = 198) demonstrated a positive attitude toward influenza vaccination, and 64.3% (n = 331) demonstrated a positive attitude toward COVID-19 vaccination. Logistic regression analysis revealed that the strongest influence on positive attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination is having it recommended by an obstetrician-gynecologist (OR = 2.439, p = 0.025). The obstetrician-gynecologist's recommendation to vaccinate against influenza also significantly influences the decision to vaccinate (OR = 5.323). The study results also show a strong correlation between the obstetrician-gynecologist as a source of information on influenza and vaccination and participants' positive attitudes toward vaccination (OR = 4.163). Obstetricians have a significant influence on pregnant women's decisions regarding vaccinations. Further recommendations to vaccinate and awareness-raising among obstetricians may be needed to increase the vaccination rate of pregnant women in Poland.

Adverse outcome of T3-predominant maternal Grave's disease during pregnancy in the mother and the offspring.

Note required for Clinical Vignette.

Pregnant Women's Knowledge of and Attitudes towards Influenza Vaccination during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland.

Pregnant women are more susceptible to influenza virus infections due to the immunological and physiological changes in the course of pregnancy. Vaccination during pregnancy is a safe and effective method for protecting both the mothers and the infants from influenza and its complications. This study was conducted in order to determine the knowledge and attitudes of Polish pregnant women towards influenza vaccination during the COVID-19 pandemic. A questionnaire-based and self-administered study was carried out fully online and a total of 515 women participated. A total of 52% (n = 268) of surveyed women answered that vaccination against influenza during pregnancy was safe. However, only 21% (n = 108) were vaccinated against influenza during their current pregnancy and 17.5% (n = 90) intended to be vaccinated. The participants indicated many concerns about getting vaccinated during pregnancy, but also many benefits that come with the vaccination. General knowledge about influenza, its complications, and vaccination was quite high in the study group.

The impact of COVID-19 pandemic on reproductive intentions among the Polish population.

OBJECTIVES: The study was conducted in order to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the fertility intentions among the Polish population. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based online study was carried out among Polish adults in order to determine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the reproductive plans of the Polish society. A total of 984 participants correctly completed the survey. RESULTS: The pandemic has affected the reproductive intentions of 22% (n = 216) of the respondents, most of them want to have a child later than they previously planned (74.1%). The relationship between the change in reproductive intentions and the concerns about the pandemic was found. Most of those who changed their plans were afraid that the access to prenatal care and delivery services could be limited (86.6%) or were afraid about giving birth at the hospital (81%). More than half (51.9%) of those who changed reproductive plans were afraid of losing their income and 40.3% had already experienced a decrease in their income. The change in partner's emotional relationships was also observed. More than half of respondents (56.7%) admitted that during the pandemic they had developed a deeper emotional relationship with their partners or felt more emotionally supported (56.6%). Most participants responded that the frequency of their sexual intercourses was not affected (66.7%) and that they had not experienced limited access to contraceptives (95.1%) during the pandemic. CONCLUSIONS: The COVID-19 pandemic has affected Polish people's reproductive intentions. Concerns related to healthcare access and the economic difficulties have the most significant impact.

Difficulties in the management of hypokalemia in a pregnant patient with Gitelman syndrome.

Gitelman syndrome (GS) is a rare renal disorder, and little is known about its impact on pregnancy. We report the successful outcome of pregnancy in a patient with GS that was managed with aggressive oral and intravenous potassium supplementation.

Women's attitude towards umbilical cord blood banking in Poland.

Umbilical cord blood (UCB) is considered as a valuable potential source of hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. A process of collecting and storing UCB in the immediate period after the birth is called UCB banking. The study was conducted in order to determine women's knowledge, awareness, preferences and attitude towards UCB banking in Poland, considering the sociodemographic and obstetric factors. A cross-sectional, self-administered, online questionnaire-based study including mostly multiple choice questions concerning attitude and awareness regarding UCB banking was conducted entirely online among Facebook female users in Poland. A total of 1077 participants correctly completed the survey. Most participants (n = 911, 84.6%) were aware of the possibility of UCB banking. Social media were considered as the main source of information (47.5%). However, the participants mostly indicated the doctor as their preferred source of reliable information (86.8%). The majority of women (61.8%) assessed their level of knowledge of UCB banking as still insufficient. Among the participants who supported UCB banking (70%), the following reasons were considered as the most vital: potential possibility of helping their child (93.9%) and helping other relatives (64.4%). More than half of the respondents (66.9%), who have not stored and are not willing to store their children's UCB, indicated the high cost of UCB banking as the main reason of this decision. The knowledge and awareness of UCB storage and banking possibilities amongst women in Poland could be improved. The professional medical personnel should be a source of reliable information.