Factors related to acceptance of tetanus toxoid immunization among pregnant women in a maternal-child health programme in rural Bangladesh.

Tetanus vaccination was offered to pregnant women within the context of a maternal-child health family planning program in a rural area of Bangladesh. During a period of 16 months only about 34% of pregnant women identified by field workers received full immunization (2 injections) and about 5% received partial immunization (1 injection). The major reported reasons for nonacceptance of vaccination were objections by husbands and mothers-in-law fear due to lack of experience with injections during pregnancy and due to village rumors and failure of workers to inform pregnant women about vaccination early enough. The most frequently reported reason for failure to accept the 2nd injection was the departure of the women from their usual residence in preference of confinement in…