Engaging and supporting fathers to promote breastfeeding: a new role for Health Visitors?

Abstract

Although in our study fathers reported wanting to be involved in supporting breastfeeding, it is likely that current discourses about men and fathers as well as more practical worries and concerns may prevent some health visitors and other health professionals from involving them in meaningful ways. Whilst our study is limited in its scope and more research is needed, our data indicates that fathers are potentially a missing part of the jigsaw in terms of breastfeeding support.

Evaluation of a brief intervention to assist health visitors and community practitioners to engage with fathers as part of the healthy child initiative

“…Yet studies both from the UK and across the world suggest that the needs of men as they make the transition to fatherhood are not being met, nor are they clearly understood. Common barriers to better engagement with fathers have been identified, including a predominantly female health and family care workforce (Lamour & Letronnier, 2003;Page & Whitting, 2008), lack of confidence on the part of practitioners to engage with fathers (Shribman & Billingham, 2008), practitioners not seeing it as their remit to work with fathers (Zanoni et al, 2013), outdated ideas about babies' attachment being solely to the mother (Taylor & Daniel, 2000), prejudiced attitudes towards men as fathers (Sherriff & Hall, 2011), paucity of information specifically directed at fathers (Steen et al, 2012) and negative images of fathers displayed in public service settings (McMaster et al, 2014). Maternity services being described as 'woman-centred', rather than 'family-centred' as advised by McKellar et al (2008) and discriminatory use of the word 'parent' in family services to mean 'mother' and not 'mother and father' also make it less likely that family practitioners will engage with fathers or fathers with practitioners.…”

“…This has been shown to enhance children's educational attainment (Yogman & Kindlon, 1995;Aldous & Mulligan, 2002) and reduce emotional and behavioural problems (Ramchandani et al, 2013). Fathers can act as a 'buffer' against the potentially negative effects on children of a mother's postnatal depression (Chang et al, 2007) and are an important influence on the mother's decision to breastfeed and to continue breastfeeding (Everett et al, 2006;Tohotoa et al, 2009;Sherriff & Hall, 2011).…”

Self-efficacy related to parental feeding behaviour in toddler besides social support and dependent-care agency

“…Nurses need to help families to raise awareness of the family in child care, [35][36][37] as well as a husband, 38 in addition to other family members. The existence of problems in child care experience can lead to maternal depression which then affects the inadequate parenting behaviour, 39 which requires social support from people around.…”

Paternidade e amamentação: mediação da enfermeira

“…Data from another study showed that parents are interested in breastfeeding and want to be involved in the preparation and support of breastfeeding, and are interested in practical issues that demonstrate how to participate in the care, providing support to their partners. (15) Fathers and mothers are similar in their sensitivity to the child and experience the successful breastfeeding. Anxiety is a common feeling for parents.…”