ArticleBMC pregnancy and childbirth2026
Perspectives of maternal and child health care providers on their relationship with fathers during the first 1000 days of life: a Q-study methodology.
Article in BMC pregnancy and childbirth, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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6 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundResearch shows that maternal and child health care providers can play an important role in supporting men in the process of becoming a father and caring for a child. The way this professional support takes shape depends on health care providers' relationship with fathers. Yet, insights into how health care providers perceive the relationship are currently limited. Therefore, the aim of this study is to explore the perspectives of health care providers in maternal and childcare on their relationship with fathers.
methodsA Q-methodology design was used with 31 statements. The participants (n = 15) consisted of maternal and child health care providers who regularly are in contact with fathers during the first 1000 days of their child's life, such as midwives and obstetricians. This target group was selected since previous research highlights the importance of father involvement starting at an early stage and that in that stage father involvement in the care process is often lacking. Perspectives were based on statement raking grouped through Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and interpreted using interview data.
resultsFour perspectives on how health care providers perceive their relationship with fathers were found. These perspectives focus on: (1) the leading role of healthcare providers which lacks attention to fathers; (2) joint agreements and trust without paying specific attention to fathers; (3) equal interaction between healthcare providers, mothers and fathers; and (4) supporting fathers to take up their unique role.
conclusionsOur results show substantial differences between maternal and child health care providers in how they view their relationship with fathers, attributing varying roles to themselves and the fathers. Interventions in maternal and child healthcare aiming to increase paternal involvement should take these perspectives on the care relationship into account as not all maternal and child health care providers prioritize active involvement of (future) fathers. This implies that a (cultural) change in attitudes of care providers is needed to enable father involvement in maternal and child healthcare.
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