Although women have been substantially affected by the pandemic, they tend to have a lower likelihood of COVID-19 vaccine acceptance. Research on factors associated with COVID-19 vaccine acceptance among this key population is imperative. Thus, this study aimed to assess COVID-19 vaccine acceptance and associated factors among women in Saudi Arabia. This study was part of a larger study conducted on the acceptance of the COVID-19 vaccine in Saudi Arabia, carried out between the 8th and 14th of December 2020. The study sample included 910 women aged 18 years and older. Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses was utilized to analyze the data. Overall, 41% of the participants were willing to receive the vaccine. Participants were more willing to accept vaccination if they were 40-49 years old (OR = 2.209, 95% CI: 1.49-2.02), if they had a moderate (OR = 2.570, 95% CI 1.562-4.228) or high to very high (OR = 1.925, 95% CI 1.093-3.390) perceived likelihood of being infected with COVID-19, or if they were in favor of mandatory COVID-19 vaccination for people in Saudi Arabia (OR = 64.916, 95% CI 35.911-117.351). However, participants with a high educational level (OR = 0.431, 95% CI 0.220-0.847) or who refused physician-recommended vaccines in the past (OR = 0.152, 95% CI 0.083-0.275) were less likely to accept COVID-19 vaccination. Given the low level of vaccine acceptance among women, relevant stakeholders should consider the needs and dynamics of this key population to increase vaccination uptake and to improve current and future outreach activities.
Keywords: COVID-19; Saudi Arabia; female population; hesitancy; vaccine; vaccine acceptance; women.