Premium
Parent–infant classes in the early postpartum period: Need and participation by fathers and mothers
Author(s) -
Matthey Stephen,
Barnett Bryanne
Publication year - 1999
Publication title -
infant mental health journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.693
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1097-0355
pISSN - 0163-9641
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1097-0355(199923)20:3<278::aid-imhj5>3.0.co;2-i
Subject(s) - attendance , medicine , childbirth , postpartum period , family medicine , postnatal care , pregnancy , obstetrics , psychology , nursing , pediatrics , genetics , economics , biology , economic growth
Preparation for parenthood classes traditionally focus mainly on childbirth and are aimed particularly at women. Fathers ( n = 193) who attended these classes were interviewed when their infant was 6 weeks old, and 31% stated that they would have liked more information on caring for the infant, either at the antenatal classes or postpartum. At 6 months postpartum, 77.9% of these fathers said they would have, or might have, attended a class with their infant in the first few postpartum weeks, which discussed ways of caring for young babies. Comparable rates for the women ( n = 202) were 29% at 6 weeks, stating they would have liked more information antenatally or postnatally on baby‐care issues, and 84.4% at 6 months saying they either would have, or might have, attended a baby‐care class postpartum. A separate sample of 71 couples was then offered a postpartum baby‐care class, which they could attend alone or with their partner on a weekday, or a special class just for fathers on Saturdays. Of the fathers, 14.1% attended one or other class, while 25.4% of the mothers attended the midweek class. These rates were significantly higher than for a control sample of couples ( n = 86 ) who were informed of the services provided by the Family Care Cottage, such as sleep and settling classes for babies, in the routine manner at the antenatal classes. Reasons for the attendance rate by fathers and mothers are discussed, as well as suggestions that might lead to increased uptake of such specialist father–infant classes. © 1999 Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health