Objective: To understand the perception of the multiprofessional health care team
regarding the inclusion of fathers in the care of preterm infants who are in
Intensive Care Units (ICUs).Methods: This is a descriptive study with a qualitative approach, using a
semi-structured interview with 12 health care professionals of a neonatal
ICU, from February to July 2017. The data were analyzed according to the
Discourse of the Collective Subject.Results: Seven main ideas (MI) emerged from the text analysis, which were grouped
into two themes: 1) the role of the father according to the
multiprofessional health care team views (MI1: parent provider, MI2: shared
care, MI3: supportive father); 2) perception of the father caring for the
hospitalized preterm infant (MI4: father does not change diapers; MI5:
father conquering new spaces; MI6: strengthening the bonding; MI7: father
providing maternal security.Conclusions: The results of this study point out to the importance of including the
father figure in the humanized care of preterm infants. Professional health
care team should be more aware of fathers’ importance in the care of
hospitalized preterm infants.