“Being a father gives purpose and mission in life...” Perspectives on Fatherhood & Involvement During Pregnancy and Childbirth

by derek m. griffith, emily c. jaeger, and perri pepperman

Becoming a father often represents a critical milestone in a man’s life (Garfield et al., 2006; Reeves, 2022). While some fathers describe it as a thing of joy and source of pride, becoming a father also leads men to question if they can live up to and fulfill the various roles and expectations involved. Much of the academic literature has focused on the roles, needs, challenges, and expectations of fathers after the baby is born, but there is a need to better understand what it means to be a father from the time they learn of conception through the opportunity they have to see their child come into the world (Xue et al., 2018). Historically, this literature has been characterized by asking mothers what they think and need from fathers, but it also is important to gain the perspectives of fathers (Cooper et al., 2023). Fathers perspectives are important for developing resources and implementing programs to help fathers fulfill their roles, and support the needs of expectant and new mothers (Alio et al., 2013).

Researchers have identified three dimensions of father involvement: accessibility (i.e., presence and availability), engagement (e.g., food roles, emotional support for a pregnant woman, encouraging pregnant woman’s healthy eating and activity, taking care of other children), and responsibility (participation in tasks such as arranging childcare, talking with their children’s teachers, etc.) (Alio et al., 2013; Cabrera et al., 2000). Being actively engaged in the pregnancy and childbirth by helping to provide emotional and instrumental support to the pregnant woman are directly related to the quality of the relationship with the pregnant woman and the couple’s desire for the pregnancy (Alio et al., 2013). Responsibility is a demonstrated commitment to ensuring the safe journey of the pregnant woman and the baby (Alio et al., 2013). This includes providing financial support but extends beyond this role to include being a nurturer, protector, and caregiver in ways that reduce maternal stress, and encourage the pregnant woman’s positive and healthy behaviors (Alio et al., 2013).

Partnering with the Alliance for Innovation on Maternal Health - Community Care Initiative (AIM CCI), we – in the Center for Men’s Health Equity (CMHE) at Georgetown University – completed two focus group discussions with small groups of with fathers from Atlanta, GA, Fresno, CA, New Orleans, LA, Tulsa, OK, and Newark, NJ for a total of 10 focus groups from November 2021 to April 2022. The goals of the discussions were to capture social, cultural, and environmental factors that may influence fathers’ perspectives and behaviors, particularly during the pregnancy and birthing experience. In this paper, we specifically explored how these men thought about what it means to be a father, and how did they think they should be involved during pregnancy and childbirth. We also explored what fathers described as barriers and facilitators to being present, actively engaged, and accountable to expectant mothers during pregnancy and childbirth.

In our study, we found that fathers not only understood and embraced their responsibility to the pregnant woman during the pregnancy. While learning to embrace the role of father often led to feelings of uncertainty, inadequacy, and fear, with encouragement, social support, and information these men often were willing to face those challenges. Fathers often noted that they needed more information about pregnancy, the development of the baby, and childbirth itself than what they currently receive. Several fathers also discussed needing resources to help with financial planning, financial stress, and their mental health and the mental health of the mother.

As others have noted, we found that the relationship with the pregnant woman is a key factor that influences how present and engaged fathers felt they could be. Consequently, it is critical to create resources and programs with the assumption that they are invested in the pregnancy and the health of the pregnant woman and child. Practitioners and policy makers should work to engage fathers as early in the pregnancy as possible, monitor father’s mental health and financial stress, provide resources to educate fathers on maternal health, pregnancy and childbirth, and fathers’ rights, roles, and responsibilities. Doing so could not only help keep fathers engaged, but be important resources to improve maternal and child health and well-being.

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Article Details
Fathers’ Perspectives on Fatherhood and Paternal Involvement During Pregnancy and Childbirth
Derek M. Griffith, Emily C. Jaeger, Perri Pepperman, Karen A. Chustz, Deborah Frazier, Amber Wilson, Haywood L. Brown
First Published October 3, 2023 Research Article
DOI: 10.1177/10901981231199710
Health Education & Behavior

About the Authors

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Dr. Derek M. Griffith is a Founding Co-Director of the Racial Justice Institute, Founder and Director of the Center for Men’s Health Equity, and Professor of Health Management & Policy at Georgetown University. He also serves as the Chair of Global Action on Men’s Health. Trained in psychology and public health, Dr. Griffith’s program of research focuses on developing anti-racism approaches to achieve racial, ethnic, and gender equity in health. He received a citation from the president of the American Psychological Association, “For his extraordinary leadership in addressing the impacts of racism on the health and well-being of the nation and specifically for African American and Latino men”.

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Emily C. Jaeger, MPH, is a Project Manager and Researcher at Georgetown University’s Center for Men’s Health Equity. Her work primarily focuses on behavioral health interventions and she has served as project director for several large-scale health interventions focused on weight loss. Her specialty areas include qualitative data analysis and intervention tailoring, both of which she has worked with Dr. Griffith on for the past decade.

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Perri Pepperman (BSN RN, MHSA) is from Simsbury, Connecticut, a small town In New England near Hartford, Connecticut. She attended University of Miami and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing with a minor in psychology. Perri decided to pursue a Masters in Health Systems Administration from Georgetown University because she believes that, coupled with her nursing degree, it will help her improve the discrepancies in healthcare distribution and specialty services provided to disadvantaged populations.