Background: Pregnant women are considered clinically vulnerable population with regards to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and have been encouraged to take precautions during the pandemic. Vaccination of the population has proven to be the most effective method of mitigating the frequency of COVID-19 cases, frequency of hospitalization, and mortality rates during the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the awareness and utilization of the COVID-19 vaccine and the barriers to its uptake among pregnant women in Saudi Arabia.
Methods: This observational cross-sectional study was conducted using an electronic questionnaire. All adult pregnant women from Saudi Arabia were included. Informed consent was provided with the study aim and participants were reassured of the confidentiality of the information. Qualitative data were assessed using the Chi-square test and quantitative data were assessed using the Spearmans correlation test.
Results: Overall, only 37% of the 285 participants demonstrated good knowledge of the vaccine. Participants who were between 28 and 42 weeks of pregnancy and who had been in contact with a patient with COVID-19 were aware about the vaccine.
Conclusion: Knowledge about COVID-19 vaccines in pregnant women in Saudi Arabia and the willingness to get vaccinated against COVID-19 are inadequate. Knowledge and attitude about vaccines can improve once data regarding vaccine safety and effectiveness are made publicly available, especially by a trusted, consolidated resource of information.
Key words: Pregnant women, COVID-19, vaccination, knowledge, awareness, attitude
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