Attitudes toward COVID-19 vaccination of pregnant and lactating women in Hungary.

OBJECTIVES: This study has three purposes. First, we explore the percentage of the population that is vaccinated and the factors that contribute to whether or not an individual takes up COVID-19 vaccination. Second, we also look at how pregnant and lactating women (PLW) take up vaccination. Third, we reveal what the public think about PLW receiving vaccines. METHODS: Questionnaire data collection was carried out online using the quota method among Hungarians aged 18-65 with Internet access. The survey was carried out between 29th November and 11th December 2021. A total of 1,000 participants completed the questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 66.4% of the respondents aged 18-65 received vaccination. There were significant differences across sociodemographic variables in vaccination: men and individuals with more education, better perceived financial status, and personal experience with COVID-19 were more likely to be vaccinated. PLW were less likely to be vaccinated, partly due to their fear of vaccines' side-effects. More than one third of the participants do not agree with PLW having COVID-19 vaccination. In general, attitudes toward vaccination of PLW differed significantly by social group. Men and individuals with tertiary education and better financial situation, who knew somebody who had died of COVID-19 infection, and who had been vaccinated were more likely to accept vaccination for both pregnant women and lactating mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Acceptance of receiving COVID-19 vaccination depends on social status; thus, targeted campaigns are required. In addition, PLW are afraid of vaccines' side effects, so they should be provided information, just as there is a need to increase public information on this topic.

Social Attitudes Toward Adoption by Same-Sex Couples in Europe.

By examining social attitudes on same-sex adoption in 28 European countries, we highlighted individual and country-level factors that can determine the level of social acceptance or rejection of this specific kind of adoption. This article contributes to the literature on social acceptance of lesbian women, gay men, and their adoption practices in Europe and directs attention to several previously under-researched aspects of social attitudes on same-sex parenting rights. The empirical base of this study was the fourth round of the European Values Study, conducted in 2008-2010. Using ordered logistic regressions, we examined the impact of several individual and country-level characteristics on the agreement level with the statement that "Homosexual couples should be able to adopt children." We found strong relationships between social attitudes towards adoption by same-sex couples and the existence of legislation permitting same-sex adoption practices at the country-level, as well as some individual attitudes, including those related to traditional family formation practices, "justification of homosexuality," and (non-) preference for homosexual neighbors. Our findings indicate a shift within the potential interpretational contexts of adoption by same-sex couples from a narrow sexuality-based framework to a different and possibly much wider context of family and parenting practices.

Gender role attitudes and father practices as predictors of nonresident father-child contact.

Due to an increasing number of parental union dissolutions, a growing number of fathers does not cohabit with their biological children. This article analyses individual and societal gender role attitudes as well as societal father practices as determinants of nonresident father-child contact. Previous research shows that individual-level factors influence the relationship between nonresident fathers and their children. Research on resident fathers indicates that individual attitudes and societal contexts affect father-child involvement. Little is known on the relationship between individual gender role attitudes as well as societal gender role attitudes and father practices and nonresident fathers' involvement in their children's lives. To shed more light thereon, we examine data from eleven Eastern and Western European countries from the first wave of the Gender and Generations Survey. We analyze two samples: One consisting of nonresident fathers of children aged 0 to 13 and one of fathers of adolescents aged 14 to 17. Logistic regression models assess if individual and societal gender role attitudes as well as societal father practices predict the probability of monthly father-child contact. Contact between nonresident fathers is affected by different factors depending on whether the focus is on children or adolescents. Societal gender role attitudes and societal father practices predict the probability of monthly contact between fathers and their children; individual gender role attitudes are less important. Individual gender role attitudes, on the other hand, predict the probability of monthly contact between nonresident fathers and their adolescent children; societal factors matter less for this age group.

Knowledge and attitudes about assisted reproductive technology: Findings from a Hungarian online survey.

This study aimed to evaluate the general knowledge and attitudes about assisted reproductive technology (ART) and the influence of sociodemographic features on knowledge and attitudes in a large sample of men and women of reproductive age in Hungary. A cross-sectional online survey study was conducted among 1370 men and women between 18 and 50 years of age in Hungary. The questionnaire included questions about self-rated knowledge, an attitude item, and eight questions concerning general knowledge about ART. In addition, participants were asked sociodemographic background questions. The results show that approximately half of the respondents (49.3%) rated themselves as fairly knowledgeable about ART. However, 56% of the respondents answered just three of the eight knowledge questions correctly. Both men and women had limited knowledge about the success rate of ART, the costs of ART and the age limit to access ART. The greatest lack of knowledge about ART was about its risks: the majority of respondents did not know that in-vitro fertilization poses health risks for women and conceived children. Regarding attitudes, the majority of respondents had a very positive attitude towards ART. Only those respondents who were religious were less supportive of ART. These data suggest that men and women of reproductive age overestimate their ART-related knowledge. As most men and women would like to have biological children in Hungary, there is a critical need for public education.