Enhancing Male Engagement: Evaluating the Impact of an Educational Intervention on Fathers' Knowledge, Attitude, and Participation in Childhood Immunization Uptake in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract

Abstract Childhood immunization coverage globally remains consistently below expected levels, a serious concern exacerbated by the limited attention given to fathers' involvement, despite their proven efficacy in improving maternal health outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the effects of targeted educational interventions on fathers' participation in childhood immunization uptake. Conducted in selected Local Government Areas in Osun State, this study utilized a mixed-design approach grounded in the Health Belief Model. Ninety‑six fathers were randomly assigned to either control or intervention groups, with data collected through questionnaires and interviews focusing on fathers' knowledge, attitude, perception, and willingness to participate. The intervention group subsequently received a tailored educational protocol manual and a reminder calendar to address identified gaps. The results following the intervention were highly significant for knowledge, attitude, perception, and willingness outcomes. While baseline scores showed generally low knowledge and willingness, the end‑line assessment demonstrated that educational intervention entirely transformed outcomes for the intervention group, which reported 100% good knowledge, good attitude, and high willingness to participate. Conversely, the control group maintained low scores in willingness and poor perception. Statistical analysis confirmed this difference, showing significant positive disparities between the two groups across all measured variables (p < 0.001). However, while the intervention profoundly improved fathers’ internal constructs and supportive behaviours such as reminding spouses (79% vs. 10% in control) and confirming immunization uptake (88% vs. 17% in control), a significant difference in overall immunization uptake rates was not observed within the study timeframe. The study established that educational intervention profoundly improves the knowledge, attitude, perception, and willingness of fathers to participate in childhood immunization. However, the translation of these improved internal states into direct immunization uptake behaviour may require a longer follow‑up period or additional enabling factors. Therefore, health workers, programme planners, and policy makers must be sensitized on effective strategies to better engage fathers in these essential public health programmes. Keywords: Fathers, childhood immunisation, uptake, educational intervention, calendar