Reasons for refusal of newborn heel-prick screening and associated factors

Abstract

Aim: This study was conducted to examine the reasons for refusal among families who declined newborn heel-prickheel-prick screening, determine the relationship between heel-prickheel-prick screening and childhood vaccination, identify factors influencing this refusal.

Materials and Methods: The cross-sectional study was conducted from January to February 2026. The study included 171 parents who refused heel-prick screening in Şanlıurfa province during 2024-2025. Data were collected using a 14-item structured information form. The analysis used descriptive statistics, univariate analyses, chi-square tests (Pearson chi-square, continuity correction, Fisher chi-square), and a logistic regression model.

Results: Of the babies who did not have a heel prick blood test, 54.4% had not received their childhood vaccinations. 84.0% of parents stated that vaccines were not safe, and 70.2% expressed concern about the vaccine content. 63.2% of families who refused heel-prick screening did not have heel-prickthe screening performed on their other children. The most common reason for refusing the heel-prick test was suspicion about its purpose. According to the logistic regression model, the decision to vaccinate the current child was positively associated with the vaccination status of other children (odds ratio = 51.2). The vaccination variable was associated with an 8.6-fold increase in heel screening among other children (p<0.001).

Conclusion: Families do not consider newborn heel-prick screening and childhood vaccination safe. This demonstrates parents' distrust of preventive health services and highlights the importance of effective communication skills among healthcare personnel.