Intention to take COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among pregnant women attending antenatal care at public health facilities in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia

BACKGROUND: Pregnant mothers are a risky population group for COVID-19 and pregnant mothers with COVID-19 are at increased risk of hospitalization, intensive-care unit admission, invasive ventilation support, and maternal mortality. Vaccination is an essential tool in stopping the effect of the pandemic on maternal and child health. However, there are only limited studies in Ethiopia on the intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine among pregnant women. Thus, this study aimed to assess intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine and associated factors among pregnant women in Bahir Dar city, Northwest Ethiopia. METHODS: Facility based cross-sectional study was conducted among 590 pregnant women from 23 May to 07 July 2022. The study participants were selected using a systematic sampling technique. Interviewer administrative questionnaire with epicollect5 application was used to collect the data. Both bi-variable and multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was performed. Statistical significance was defined at a 95% CI with a p-value < 0.05. RESULT: Overall, 19.8% (95% CI: 16.60–23.06%) of pregnant women intend to take the COVID-19 vaccine. Being urban residence (AOR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.71–6.78), third trimester of gestational age (AOR = 3.11, 95% CI: 1.61–6.03), multipara (AOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.33–3.97), knowledge of COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 2.33, 95% CI: 1.44–3.77) and having good attitude towards COVID-19 vaccine (AOR = 2.68, 95% CI: 1.65–4.33) were significantly associated with intention to take COVID-19 vaccine. CONCLUSION: In conclusion, the pregnant women’s intention to take the COVID-19 vaccine in this study area was very low. It was significantly associated with residency, gestational age, parity, knowledge, and attitude toward the vaccine. Therefore, strengthening interventions that improve knowledge and attitude about the COVID-19 vaccine, predominantly among those primipara mothers and mothers from rural residences, may raise the intention to take it. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12905-023-02331-1.