Father's participation in prenatal care and childbirth: contributions of nurses' interventions

Abstract

Objective. To describe the discourse of men about participation in prenatal care and childbirth/birth of their children from the contributions made by nurses. 
 Methods. This is an exploratory study, with a qualitative approach, carried out in the wards of a public hospital/maternity hospital in a city in the Northeast, Brazil. Fifty men participated in the study. Data collection with an individual interview, guided by semi-structured script. The data were recorded, transcribed in full, systematized, categorized, and organized by the Collective Subject Discourse method analyzed under the framework of Gender and Masculinities. 
 Result. It was evident in the collective discourse of men that how fatherhood is understood is in transformation, and that the father's participation in the pregnancy and parturition context is under construction. The study showed the change in behavior of men, as well as the expression of new models of masculinities, about the exercise of assisted parenthood motivated by nurses. 
 Conclusion. Nurses' contributions represented necessary elements for greater adherence and male involvement and revealed a possibility to re-signify male identity from the reconstruction of the idea of fatherhood, in the context of pregnancy and parturition.

Educational technology to promote father involvement in childbirth and birth

“…Throughout history, the father figure has been little involved in the birth scenario, the result of the traditional care model and a culture of gender distinction, in which the woman is considered responsible for pregnant, giving birth, raising and caring for children. However, several benefits are being reported with regard to the father's involvement in events related to the pregnancy and puerperal cycle and the first years of the child's life (1)(2)(3) .…”

“…National and international research recognizes the need for the father's involvement in the birth of their child so that they become an active participant in supporting the woman during both the pregnancy and the birth process (1)(2)(3)(11)(12) . The current model of care, especially in Latin America, considers paternal participation practices lacking previous preparation, which can generate stressful situations and emotional ambivalence in men (11) .…”

“…Prenatal visits by health professionals are a great opportunity to stimulate this interaction, but tools are needed to foster parental involvement and inclusion (1,10) . However, the booklet can support the practice of nurses for this approach during prenatal care, mediating its use for a better understanding, and be made available to parents for reading at home.…”

Tecnologia educacional para promoção do envolvimento de pais no parto e nascimento

“…Ao longo da história, a figura paterna pouco tem se envolvido no cenário parturitivo, fruto do modelo assistencial tradicional e de uma cultura de distinção de gêneros, em que a mulher é considerada responsável por gestar, parir, criar e cuidar dos filhos. No entanto, diversos benefícios estão sendo relatados com relação ao envolvimento do pai em eventos relacionados ao ciclo gravídico, puerperal e primeiros anos de vida da criança (1)(2)(3) .…”

“…Pesquisas nacionais e internacionais reconhecem a necessidade do envolvimento do pai no nascimento de seu filho para que ele se torne um participante ativo no apoio à mulher tanto durante a gestação quanto no processo parturitivo (1)(2)(3)(11)(12) . O modelo de atenção vigente, principalmente na América Latina, considera as práticas de participação paterna carente de preparo prévio, o que pode gerar situações estressantes e ambivalência emocional nos homens (11) .…”