Abstract
BackgroundPregnancy outcomes in the United States rank among the worst of countries with a developed health care system. Although traditional prenatal health primarily focuses on women, promising findings have emerged in international research that suggest the potential of including men in prenatal health interventions in the United States. eHealth apps present a promising avenue to reach new and expectant fathers with crucial parenting knowledge and healthy, supportive behaviors.ObjectiveThe aim was to explore the perceived role of men in prenatal health, acceptability of eHealth to positively engage men during pregnancy, and participant-suggested ways of improving a prenatal health app designed for new and expectant fathers.MethodsA nationally representative sample of adult males (N=962) was recruited through an online survey panel. A third-party market research and digital data collection agency managed the recruitment. The sample had a mean age of 30.2 (SD 6.3) years and included both fathers (413/962, 42.9%) and non-fathers (549/962, 57.1%). Nearly 12.0% (115/962) of participants had a partner who was pregnant at the time of the survey.ResultsDespite perceived barriers, such as time constraints, financial burdens, and an unclear role, men believe it is important to be involved in pregnancy health. The majority of participants (770/944, 81.6%) found the site to contain useful and interesting information. Most substantially, more than three-quarters (738/962, 76.7%) of the sample said they would share the site with others who would benefit from the information. Participants recommended the addition of interactive modules, such as a financial planning tool and videos, to make the site stronger.ConclusionsWe explored the use of targeted eHealth to introduce men to prenatal education. Results indicate men are favorable to this intervention. Additional refinement should include interactive tools to further engage men in this important issue. Reaching men at the prenatal phase is an early “teachable moment”—where new/expectant fathers are open to information on how to help their partners have a healthy pregnancy and promote the health of their unborn children. Findings will further inform best practices for engaging men in pregnancy, which is crucial for improving maternal and child health outcomes in the United States.
Highlights
Maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States rank among the worst of all high-income countries
It is important for a father to be involved in pregnancy health
I want to be involved in pregnancy health when the time comes
Summary
Maternal and infant mortality rates in the United States rank among the worst of all high-income countries. It is estimated that 60,000 women each year suffer severe pregnancy-related issues considered “near-miss” maternal mortality [2] Improving these outcomes is a goal of the US Healthy People 2020 initiative as well as a target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. To combat burdensome pregnancy outcomes, public health interventions and social marketing campaigns have played a key part in disseminating important information [4,5,6] These interventions have been beneficial in promoting prenatal visits to health care providers, reducing mother-to-child transmission of diseases, and increasing breastfeeding practices [4,7,8]. Findings will further inform best practices for engaging men in pregnancy, which is crucial for improving maternal and child health outcomes in the United States
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
