title: Australian Fathers' Study: What Influences Paternal Engagement With Antenatal Care?
abstract: This mixed-methods study explores factors associated with and levels of engagement of fathers in antenatal care. One hundred expectant fathers were recruited from antenatal clinics and community settings in Western Australia. They completed validated questionnaires. Eighty-three percent of expectant fathers reported a lack of engagement with antenatal care. Factors significantly associated with lack of engagement in multivariate analysis were working more than 40 hours a week and lack of adequate consultation by antenatal care staff. In qualitative analysis, 6 themes emerged in association with a lack of engagement. They were role in decision making, time pressures, the observer effect, lack of knowledge, barriers to attendance, and feeling unprepared or anxious. Care providers should involve fathers in consultations to improve paternal engagement.
authors.forename: Timothy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Jeffery
authors.forename: Ki-Yung
authors.initials: KY
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Brandon
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kueh
authors.forename: Rodney W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Petersen
authors.forename: Julie A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Quinlivan
keywords: Australia; antenatal; engagement; expectant fathers
references.citation: Women Birth. 2011 Sep;24(3):129-36
references.pmid: 21216684
references.citation: Birth. 2009 Dec;36(4):305-18
references.pmid: 20002423
references.citation: Sex Reprod Healthc. 2012 Mar;3(1):11-20
references.pmid: 22325797
references.citation: Sex Reprod Healthc. 2012 Mar;3(1):3-9
references.pmid: 22325796
references.citation: J Adv Nurs. 2008 Apr;62(1):107-15
references.pmid: 18352969
references.citation: J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2009 May-Jun;38(3):280-9
references.pmid: 19538616
references.citation: Midwifery. 1997 Sep;13(3):132-8
references.pmid: 9362853
references.citation: Midwifery. 2011 Feb;27(1):67-73
references.pmid: 19783334
references.citation: J Affect Disord. 2009 Dec;119(1-3):142-8
references.pmid: 19346001
references.citation: Am J Obstet Gynecol. 2010 Jan;202(1):61.e1-7
references.pmid: 19766975
references.citation: JAMA. 1991 May 1;265(17):2197-201
references.pmid: 2013951
references.citation: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth. 2013 Mar 20;13:70
references.pmid: 23514133