Parental Attitudes on Childhood Vaccinations: A Qualitative Study on Hesitancy and Motivations

This study aimed to reveal the decision-making processes, hesitations, and motivations of parents who had their children vaccinated during childhood but experienced hesitation during this process.

In-depth interviews were conducted via telephone with 16 parents in Türkiye who had children aged 0-7 years and had vaccinated their children. Participants were selected with a purposive sampling method and their data were analyzed thematically in line with a phenomenological approach.

Parents' vaccination decisions were shaped by their sense of parental responsibility, the motivation to protect their child, social expectations, and their interactions with healthcare professionals. Parents who experienced vaccine hesitancy frequently reported feelings of uncertainty, loss of control, and inadequate communication. The information overload encountered in digital environments often deepened confusion and distrust. However, personal contact with healthcare professionals-especially empathetic and trust-based communication-played a critical role in transforming hesitancy into acceptance. The main motivations guiding parents' final decisions were the desire to be good parents, to cope with uncertainty, and to ensure their children's safety.

Interventions to reduce vaccine hesitancy should integrate the supportive and guiding role of healthcare professionals, focusing on communication that builds trust and meets parents' emotional as well as informational needs.