How New and Expecting Fathers Engage With an App-Based Online Forum: Qualitative Analysis

Abstract

BackgroundBreastfeeding is important for infants, and fathers are influential in supporting their partner in their decision to breastfeed and how long they breastfeed for. Fathers can feel excluded from traditional antenatal education and support opportunities but highly value social support from peers. Online health forums can be a useful source of social support, yet little is known about how fathers would use a conversation forum embedded in a breastfeeding-focused app. Milk Man is a mobile app that aimed to increase paternal support for breastfeeding using a range of strategies, including a conversation forum.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to examine how fathers used a breastfeeding-focused conversation forum contained within a mobile app throughout the perinatal period.MethodsA qualitative analysis of comments posted by users in the online forum contained within the Milk Man app was conducted. The app contained a library of information for fathers, as well as a conversation forum. Thematic analysis was used to organize and understand the data. The NVivo 11 software package was used to code comments into common nodes, which were then organized into key themes.ResultsIn all, 208 contributors (35.5% [208/586] of those who had access to the app) posted at least once within the forum. In total, 1497 comments were included for analysis. These comments were coded to 3799 individual nodes and then summarized to 54 tree nodes from which four themes emerged to describe how fathers used the app. Themes included seek and offer support, social connection, informational support provision, and sharing experiences. Posting in the forum was concentrated in the antenatal period and up to approximately 6 weeks postpartum.ConclusionsThese data show that fathers are prepared to use a breastfeeding-focused online forum in a variety of ways to facilitate social support. Fathers can be difficult to reach in the perinatal period, yet engaging them and increasing social support is important. This research demonstrates the acceptability of an innovative way of engaging new and expecting fathers.

Gamifying Breastfeeding for Fathers: Process Evaluation of the Milk Man Mobile App

“…Almost all the most read library articles and external links followed from the app originated from links within the conversation forum. Our team has previously reported how fathers have used the app to seek and offer social support [31]. This finding is consistent with that of other researchers who have reported that fathers use parenting forums to find emotional support [28], with parenting websites being particularly helpful in supporting men’s transition to fathering [49].…”

“…Users could swipe the notification to be taken directly to the new content in the conversation. The conversation forum was monitored by researchers throughout the study [31]. The app’s engagement strategy was underpinned by gamification.…”

“…Mobile technology can provide the user with accessible information despite geographical distance or time constraints, and the immediacy of this technology provides users with information when it is most needed [28]. Peer support can be provided through app-based and Web-based forums and can assist the transition to fatherhood by providing fathers with the opportunity to share information and experiences, mutual support, and the recognition that they are not alone with their problems [31,32].…”

Improving Breastfeeding by Empowering Mothers in Vietnam: A Randomised Controlled Trial of a Mobile App

“…Messages and library resources for the intervention and control groups will be developed separately and delivered to participants through a smartphone app. The design, development and evaluation of the app will be adapted from previous studies on mHealth and infant feeding [ 91 , 96 , 99 , 113 , 114 , 115 , 116 , 117 ].…”

“…A quasi-experimental study on the “Growing Healthy mHealth Program” found no differences in exclusive breastfeeding rates between the intervention and control groups [ 96 ]. Other studies have focused on promoting exclusive breastfeeding through fathers [ 97 , 98 , 99 ]. Mobile applications have also been developed in other countries such as Thailand [ 92 ] and the United States [ 100 , 101 , 102 ], which have focused on the feasibility and acceptability of the mobile application, though more studies on their effectiveness are needed [ 103 , 104 ].…”