A Pilot Study to Describe the Vaccine Attitudes and Behaviors of Homeschooling Parents

Background:
Past research suggests a high level of vaccine hesitancy among homeschooling families. An understanding of the vaccine attitudes and behaviors of these families is important in addressing their concerns.

Objectives:
1) describe the vaccine attitudes and behaviors of parents who homeschool, plan to homeschool, or would consider homeschooling their children, and 2) compare them to the attitudes and behaviors of non-homeschooling parents.

Methods:
This pilot study used a national mail survey to identify parents with one or more children age 18 years and under who self-reported that they either homeschool, plan to homeschool, or would consider homeschooling (homeschoolers). We used the same survey to identify a demographically similar comparison group of parents who did not homeschool (non-homeschoolers). These parents were re-contacted for semi-structured telephone interviews.

Results:
We completed interviews with 62 homeschoolers and 51 non-homeschoolers. The most common reason for homeschooling was parents' belief that they could give their child a better education at home. Compared to non-homeschoolers, a greater proportion of homeschoolers agreed with the statement “children get more vaccines than they really need” (40% vs. 12%; p<0.05), and a lower proportion reported that their child has gotten or will get all recommended vaccines (58% vs. 98%; p<0.05). The most common reason listed by homeschoolers for not planning to fully vaccinate their child was concern over vaccine side effects or safety. The most common suggestions homeschoolers had for health officials to address the health needs of homeschooling children were to work through doctors or directly with parents.

Conclusions:
This pilot study suggests that a higher proportion of homeschooling parents believe that children get more vaccines than they need and a lower proportion of homeschooling parents plan to fully vaccinate their children when compared to non-homeschooling parents. Homeschooling parents suggested working with doctors or directly with parents to address their vaccine concerns.