Perceptions of parents with children six or younger on adhering to the well-child care visit schedule

Adherence to the well-child care (WCC) visit schedule is suboptimal. Parents play an essential role in promoting their child’s health. We asked parents of children six and younger to inform us about their beliefs regarding, experiences with, and barriers to attending WCC visits. We were guided by constructivist grounded theory (CGT) in our qualitative study of parents’ perceptions of WCC visits and the barriers they face to adherence. Forty-five English-speaking parents, all residents of Indiana, participated in semi-structured interviews from December 2023 to June 2024. Parents adhered to their provider’s instructions on when to schedule WCC visits, regardless of their lack of understanding about what guides the provider’s instructions. Provider trust was a key factor in deciding to go to a visit. Once deciding to attend, preparation was needed, which included getting time off work and finding time on a provider’s schedule that aligned with their personal work schedule. The physical environment, office staff, and the provider’s behavior influenced perceptions of the visit. Analyses revealed that respondents with lower incomes and Medicaid reported the most barriers to adherence. Parents in this study demonstrated a belief that WCC benefits their children by following their provider’s instructions to attend WCC visits even though they do not know the schedule or its purpose. Efforts to improve future adherence could include improving Medicaid processes, extending clinic hours beyond a typical workday schedule, and informing employers of the need to make provisions so families can attend WCC visits.