Abstract
BackgroundOf all births in Australia, 10 % are to young fathers aged less than 24 years. How young fathers experience any breastfeeding and how this is shaped by their social context is poorly understood. Our aim is to increase understanding of the lived experience of young fathers (aged less than 24 years) and to explore the way they speak about breastfeeding in the context of their lives and parenting.MethodsThis collective case study analysis uses qualitative data from interviews and focus groups with young fathers (aged less than 24 years) and community support staff. The research was undertaken in Tasmania, Australia, March to December 2013.ResultsYoung fathers in our study had complex social and emotional circumstances that meant breastfeeding was not a high priority despite them valuing the health benefits of breastfeeding for their babies. If supported by peers and their community they appear to have a more positive parenting experience.ConclusionBreastfeeding although understood by the young fathers in our study as healthy and desirable is not a priority in their lives. Learning to be a parent and support their partners to breastfeed may be more effectively gained through mentoring and father-to-father localized community based support services.
Highlights
Of all births in Australia, 10 % are to young fathers aged less than 24 years
We focused our analysis using the following aim: to increase understanding of the lived experiences of young fathers aged < 24 years and to explore the way they speak about breastfeeding in the context of their lives
The results are constructed within the context of young fatherhood and weave together excerpts from field notes and transcripts with the community support staff (CSS) and young fathers, describing firstly the experience of young fatherhood followed by how breastfeeding was talked about
Summary
Of all births in Australia, 10 % are to young fathers aged less than 24 years. How young fathers experience any breastfeeding and how this is shaped by their social context is poorly understood. Our aim is to increase understanding of the lived experience of young fathers (aged less than 24 years) and to explore the way they speak about breastfeeding in the context of their lives and parenting. Young mothers either do not elect or continue to breastfeed [2]. Those who do commence have an 11 % increased risk of stopping exclusive breastfeeding (where the infant is fed only breastmilk) within the first six months [3]. The dominant understanding how young mothers experience breastfeeding is often indirectly
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