Qualitative Study of Men's Experiences of Becoming a Father for the First-Time in Pakistan: A Critical Realist Perspective.

There is a knowledge gap about fathers' experiences during the perinatal period globally. Limited literature addresses experiences of first-time fathers during the perinatal period in the sociocultural context of Pakistan. This is the first study to explore the experiences of first-time fathers during the perinatal period in Pakistan and seeks to clarify those experiences from the father's perspectives. Critical realism (CR) philosophy was integrated with the socioecological model (SEM) framework to guide this qualitative descriptive study. Eight first-time fathers were recruited and interviewed individually at their homes by male research assistants. Four fathers were experiencing the prenatal phase and four were experiencing the postnatal phase up to 6 months after delivery. Interview data were analyzed using inductive content analysis technique. Results revealed the multifaceted relationship between agents and social structures in contributing to the perinatal experiences of first-time fathers in Pakistan. Religion played a strong role in shaping first-time Pakistani fathers' experiences in both prenatal and postnatal phases of the perinatal period. Economic conditions in Pakistan contributed to fathers' stress about providing for family expenses and their child's future. Hospital and government policies were a major concern for postnatal fathers. All fathers developed a sense of responsibility after receiving news about becoming a father. Integration of CR and SEM facilitated new insights. This multilevel perspective may offer hope for improving the experiences of first-time fathers during their wives' perinatal period. These new insights can also assist policymakers and researchers in developing strategies and interventions for successful transition to fatherhood in Pakistan.