Abstract:

Background: Tetanus is an acute, often fatal, disease caused by the bacterium Clostridium tetani via its exotoxin. Since the bacteria are usually found in soil, dust, and manure they are usually transmitted into the body through breaks in the skin mostly cuts or puncture wounds caused by contaminated objects. This condition is characterized by generalized rigidity and convulsive spasms of skeletal muscles. The TT vaccine has an 86% distribution in developed countries and 27% distribution in developing countries. In 2019 there were 27000 cases of neonatal tetanus worldwide reporting 44% of the cases to have occurred in sub Saharan Africa.

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine the knowledge, attitude and practice of tetanus toxoid vaccination among adult pregnant women at Koromije Health Centre.

Methodology: Prospective health center based Cross-sectional study was conducted among adult pregnant women attending clinic at Koromije Health Centre Mwanza Tanzania from 17 of July 2023 to 1of August 2023. Random sampling technique was used to select the adult pregnant women and a minimum of 135 pregnant women were involved in the study. Data was collected using a structured closed ended questionnaire which included their demographic data also their knowledge attitude and practice about tetanus toxoid vaccination where by adult pregnant women were requested to fill the questions after accepting the informed consent. Data was analyzed using SPSS statistics version 20.

Results: The level of knowledge is not adequate in more than 40% of pregnant mothers, and their attitude toward tetanus toxoid vaccination were poor for more than 35% of all participants. In case of practice the less than 10% of pregnant women found to receive less than five doses while 33.9% had less than five doses but already received. The main barriers to the vaccination were education and information regarding to tetanus toxoid vaccination.

Conclusion: Most of the adult pregnant women showed to have luck of enough information concerning Tetanus toxoid vaccine and its advantage like reducing severity of neonatal tetanus while others have misconceptions that it is not safe. The higher number of adult pregnant women were found to have low knowledge concerning tetanus toxoid vaccination which makes this vaccination programme difficult but also increase the risk of of neonatal tetanus.