ArticleBMJ open2024
Fathers' mental health and coping strategies: a qualitative study in Mwanza, Tanzania.
Article in BMJ open, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 6 citations in OpenAlex.
- Structural and health system determinants of mental health in Tanzania: mapping policy recommendations to the WHO comprehensive mental health action plan 2013-2030.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Community-identified priorities for parenting and parental mental health in coastal Ghana: Formative insights to shape a multi-component intervention.PLOS global public health · 2026Article
- Essential Coaching for Every Mother Tanzania (ECEM-TZ): Protocol for a Type 1 Hybrid Effectiveness-Implementation Randomized Controlled Trial.JMIR research protocols · 2024Article
- Father involvement is a protective factor for maternal mental health in Western Kenya.SSM. Mental health · 2024Article
- Parent Psychological Well-Being, Home Learning Environment, and Child Development among Kenyan Families.Journal of applied developmental psychologyArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
6 authors at 4 institutions in 3 countries.
Funding
Abstract
objectivesTo investigate the nature of paternal mental health problems, their causes and the coping strategies used by fathers of young children under the age of 2 years. DESIGN AND
settingWe conducted in-depth interviews with fathers, mothers, community leaders and community health workers as well as focus group discussions with fathers-only, mothers-only and mixed groups of fathers and mothers. Respondents provided their perspectives on the psychosocial challenges affecting fathers and how fathers responded to their mental health problems. Data were triangulated across stakeholders and analysed using thematic content analysis.
settingThe study was conducted in four communities in Mwanza, Tanzania.
participantsThe total sample included 56 fathers, 56 mothers and 8 community stakeholders that were equally distributed across the four communities.
resultsRespondents highlighted a spectrum of mental health concerns affecting fathers, including elevated parenting stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Causes of paternal mental health problems included poverty, child-related concerns, marital problems and family illness. When asked about paternal coping strategies, both fathers and mothers shared that fathers mostly turned to negative coping strategies to manage their distress, such as paternal alcohol use and poor conflict resolution strategies. However, respondents also shared how some fathers used positive coping strategies, such as seeking out social support from their family and friends, engaging in exercise and leisure activities and relying on their faith.
conclusionsOverall, this study highlights the importance of supporting positive mental health among fathers. Our findings can inform the design of psychosocial programme components that can be integrated within parenting interventions to promote the well-being of specifically fathers and ultimately improve the family caregiving environment.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.