In rural Tanzania, dads’ education matters a lot for whether their baby gets vaccines on time — but in cities, it doesn’t seem to make much difference.

Scientific Claim

In rural Tanzania, the association between paternal education and delayed DTP3 vaccination is significantly stronger than in urban Tanzania, suggesting that male involvement in child health decisions plays a more critical role in rural immunization outcomes.

Original Statement

“The magnitude of the association between paternal education and delayed or incomplete vaccination was stronger in Morogoro for both DTP1 and DTP3 (p-value for interaction 0.04, 0.004). In rural Morogoro, infants of fathers with no formal education had a 59% (95% CI: 36, 87%) and 36% (95% CI: 22, 52%) increased risk of delayed or not received DTP1 and DTP3 vaccination, respectively as compared to those whose fathers completed primary school.”

From study:Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Evidence Quality Assessment

Claim Status

appropriately stated

Study Design Support

Design supports claim

Appropriate Language Strength

association

Can only show association/correlation

Assessment Explanation

The study uses interaction p-values and relative risk estimates to show differential associations without implying causation. Language appropriately reflects observational evidence.

Evidence from Studies

Supporting (1)

Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Cohort Study

Human

2019 Feb 26

In rural Tanzania, dads’ education matters more for whether kids get their vaccines on time than in cities, and the study proves it by showing that kids with uneducated dads were much more likely to miss vaccines in the countryside.

Contradicting (0)

No contradicting evidence found

Source Study

Determinants of delayed or incomplete diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccination in parallel urban and rural birth cohorts of 30,956 infants in Tanzania

Score: 66

DOI: 10.1186/s12879-019-3828-3

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