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Australian Father’s Study: What attitudes do expectant fathers have towards infant vaccination?

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Abstract

Background: There is increasing concern levels of vaccination are falling below requirements for herd immunity, potentially placing newborn infants at risk. Most research on attitudes towards infant vaccination has involved mothers. Limited research has explored paternal attitudes. Our hypothesis was that fathers with higher levels of education would display a more positive attitude towards vaccination. Methods: Observational study of 400 fathers enrolled within the larger Australian Father’s Study. Institutional ethics approval and consent were obtained via mothers. Fathers were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings. Researchers administered demographic and attitudinal surveys. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected. Results: The majority of fathers had a positive attitude towards infant vaccination (N=357, 89%). However, 9% (N=35) of fathers had a neutral attitude and 2% (N=8) reported a negative attitude. There were no significant demographic differences between fathers with positive versus those with neutral or negative attitude towards vaccination. However, fathers with negative attitudes self-reported a higher level of knowledge of pregnancy related issues but were significant less likely to have obtained information from a healthcare professional and instead relied upon the Internet (both p<0.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that the majority of expectant fathers have a positive attitude toward childhood immunisation. Level of paternal education did not impact upon vaccination attitude. However, Fathers who access information from the Internet, as opposed to healthcare providers, were more likely to view vaccinations in a negative way. Involving fathers in discussion on the benefits of infant vaccination may improve vaccination rates. For more information go to australianfathersstudy.com
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