Childbirth - An emotionally demanding experience for fathers
(2012) In Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare 3(1). p.11-20- Abstract
Background: While attending birth mostly has a positive impact on becoming a father, it has also been described as including feelings of discomfort and is more demanding than expected. Objective: The objective was to explore Swedish fathers' birth experiences, and factors associated with a less-positive birth experience. Methods: Mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data were used. Two months after birth 827 fathers answered a questionnaire and 111 (13%) of these commented on the birth experience. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test for independence, risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval, logistic regression and content analysis. Results: In total, 604 (74%) of the fathers had a positive... (More)
Background: While attending birth mostly has a positive impact on becoming a father, it has also been described as including feelings of discomfort and is more demanding than expected. Objective: The objective was to explore Swedish fathers' birth experiences, and factors associated with a less-positive birth experience. Methods: Mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data were used. Two months after birth 827 fathers answered a questionnaire and 111 (13%) of these commented on the birth experience. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test for independence, risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval, logistic regression and content analysis. Results: In total, 604 (74%) of the fathers had a positive or very positive birth experience. Used method identified a less-positive birth experience associated with emergency caesarean section (RR 7.5; 4.1-13.6), instrumental vaginal birth (RR 4.2; 2.3-8.0), and dissatisfaction with the partner's medical care (RR 4.6; 2.7-7.8). Healthcare professionals' competence and approach to the fathers were also related to the birth experience. Conclusions: As the fathers' birth experiences were associated with mode of birth and experiences of the intrapartum medical care fathers should be respectfully and empathically treated during labour and birth. It is essential to better engage fathers during the intrapartum period through involvement and support to improve the likelihood of a positive birth experience.
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- author
- Johansson, Margareta ; Rubertsson, Christine LU ; Rådestad, Ingela and Hildingsson, Ingegerd
- publishing date
- 2012-03
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- keywords
- Birth experience, Content analysis, Father, Healthcare professional, Mixed methods, Mode of birth
- in
- Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare
- volume
- 3
- issue
- 1
- pages
- 10 pages
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- scopus:84856796040
- pmid:22325797
- ISSN
- 1877-5756
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.srhc.2011.12.003
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- no
- id
- 4412eadc-1dc9-4a75-b7e9-059df0e13124
- date added to LUP
- 2017-10-27 14:02:24
- date last changed
- 2024-02-13 09:50:46
@article{4412eadc-1dc9-4a75-b7e9-059df0e13124,
abstract = {{<p>Background: While attending birth mostly has a positive impact on becoming a father, it has also been described as including feelings of discomfort and is more demanding than expected. Objective: The objective was to explore Swedish fathers' birth experiences, and factors associated with a less-positive birth experience. Methods: Mixed methods including quantitative and qualitative data were used. Two months after birth 827 fathers answered a questionnaire and 111 (13%) of these commented on the birth experience. Data were analysed with descriptive statistics, chi-square test for independence, risk ratios with a 95% confidence interval, logistic regression and content analysis. Results: In total, 604 (74%) of the fathers had a positive or very positive birth experience. Used method identified a less-positive birth experience associated with emergency caesarean section (RR 7.5; 4.1-13.6), instrumental vaginal birth (RR 4.2; 2.3-8.0), and dissatisfaction with the partner's medical care (RR 4.6; 2.7-7.8). Healthcare professionals' competence and approach to the fathers were also related to the birth experience. Conclusions: As the fathers' birth experiences were associated with mode of birth and experiences of the intrapartum medical care fathers should be respectfully and empathically treated during labour and birth. It is essential to better engage fathers during the intrapartum period through involvement and support to improve the likelihood of a positive birth experience.</p>}},
author = {{Johansson, Margareta and Rubertsson, Christine and Rådestad, Ingela and Hildingsson, Ingegerd}},
issn = {{1877-5756}},
keywords = {{Birth experience; Content analysis; Father; Healthcare professional; Mixed methods; Mode of birth}},
language = {{eng}},
number = {{1}},
pages = {{11--20}},
publisher = {{Elsevier}},
series = {{Sexual and Reproductive Healthcare}},
title = {{Childbirth - An emotionally demanding experience for fathers}},
url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.srhc.2011.12.003}},
doi = {{10.1016/j.srhc.2011.12.003}},
volume = {{3}},
year = {{2012}},
}