“It Takes Two Hands to Clap”: Fathers' Access to Paediatric Primary Healthcare and Their Involvement—A Qualitative Study

Aim To explore Singaporean fathers' experience of accessing paediatric primary healthcare services and involvement in their child's health during infancy and toddlerhood. Design Qualitative study informed by social constructionism. Methods Individual semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 18 fathers of children aged 0–24 months who had accessed paediatric primary healthcare in Singapore from August 2025 to November 2025. Participants were recruited through purposive and snowball sampling. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysed using reflexive thematic analysis. Results Three themes were developed: (1) healthcare access as strategic labour, (2) legitimacy and recognition in healthcare encounters, and (3) fatherhood as negotiated practice. Fathers described access as produced through strategic coordination across public and private services, workplace negotiation, and reflexive identity work. Fathers' involvement depended not only on their motivation, but also on reciprocal recognition from healthcare systems, providers, and workplaces. Conclusion This study reframes fathers as strategic caregivers whose involvement shapes their perceived access to paediatric primary healthcare and vice versa. Father involvement emerged as a co‐constructed process, sustained through institutional recognition rather than individual effort alone. Implications for Patient Care Provision of father‐inclusive communication guides and trainings to healthcare providers can strengthen engagement with fathers. Father‐tailored resources such as parenting and health information can further encourage and support fathers' involvement in childcare. Impact This is the first study to explore Singaporean fathers' experiences of accessing paediatric primary healthcare in addition to their involvement in their child's health. The use of a reflexive constructionist lens facilitated rich, nuanced understandings of how paternal involvement interacted with institutional, relational and emotional factors. Reporting Method The reporting of the study adheres to the standards outlined in the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist. Patient or Public Contribution This study did not include patient or public involvement in its design, conduct, or reporting.