# Americans most often blame gender norms for leaving fathers out of maternal healthcare

Canonical page: https://data.verasight.io/culture/americans-most-often-blame-gender-norms-for-leaving-fathers-out-of-maternal-healthcare/

> Indexed question in Culture.

## Reading

In a Verasight survey of 1,000 U.S. adults conducted Nov. 14 to 20, 2025, Americans blamed gender norms for fathers being left out of maternal healthcare; 59% selected cultural and gender norms.

Other common reasons included fathers being seen as disinterested or unavailable (42%) and health systems not being designed to include fathers or partners (39%).

## Topline

Why do you think fathers have not been included - or are often under-included - in current maternal healthcare models?

59% of Americans selected cultural and gender norms as a reason fathers are left out of maternal healthcare.

Respondents could select more than one reason.

- Cultural and gender norms assume caregiving is primarily the mother's role: 58.8%
- Fathers are perceived as disinterested or unavailable: 42.3%
- Health systems and pregnancy care not originally designed to included fathers/partners: 38.9%
- Absence of Father-inclusive models in provider education and practice: 33.8%
- Policy and reimbursement structures focus exclusively on mothers and babies: 33.4%
- Healthcare providers often lack training or resources to engage fathers: 32.0%
- Limited research or data on the impact of father engagement in perinatal care: 28.4%
- None of the above: 9.1%

## Methodology

- Mode: Verasight panel recruited via random address-based sampling, random person-to-person text messaging, and dynamic online targeting
- Population: US adults age 18+
- Field dates: 2025-11-14 → 2025-11-20
- Base (unweighted): 1,000
- Margin of error: +/- 3.2%
- Module: Module 2
- Sponsor: Verasight
- Weight variable: weight
- Weighting targets: age, race/ethnicity, sex, income, education, region, metropolitan status

## Source

- Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#reasons-for-fathers-under-inclusion-in-maternal-healthcare-models](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#reasons-for-fathers-under-inclusion-in-maternal-healthcare-models)

## Citation

Verasight APHA Omnibus Survey #2025-148, fielded November 14-20, 2025, N=1,000 US adults age 18+, +/- 3.2%.

Canonical question URL: [https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#reasons-for-fathers-under-inclusion-in-maternal-healthcare-models](https://reports.verasight.io/r/verasight-apha-2025#reasons-for-fathers-under-inclusion-in-maternal-healthcare-models)