VACCINATION COVERAGE IN PREGNANT WOMEN: A Comparative Analysis among the States of the Southern Region of Brazil

Abstract

This article aims to compare the distribution of exclusive vaccine doses administered to pregnant women, including diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis (dTpa) and Adult Diphtheria and Tetanus (DT) vaccines, in the states of Paraná, Santa Catarina, and Rio Grande do Sul from 2013 to 2022, in order to estimate vaccination coverage. The method used was an ecological descriptive study, with data collected from DATASUS. The Excel program was used to tabulate and organize the data, followed by temporal analysis. The results indicated that the coverage of the Adult DT and dTpa vaccines showed a general downward trend until 2016, followed by fluctuation in subsequent years. In contrast, the dTpa vaccine coverage exhibited a consistent upward trend in the state of Santa Catarina, compared to Paraná and Rio Grande do Sul. However, none of these states reached the 95% vaccination coverage rate recommended by the World Health Organization. The conclusions of this study highlight fluctuations in vaccination coverage among pregnant women in the southern states of Brazil from 2013 to 2022, influenced by factors such as vaccine hesitancy, fake news, healthcare infrastructure failures, social and economic inequalities, epidemiological events, and changes in health policies. These challenges reinforce the need for federal, state, and municipal governments to implement strategies to increase vaccination coverage rates among pregnant women in the southern states of Brazil, promoting health and addressing vaccine hesitancy through effective education and communication.