Abstract
BackgroundFamily-centred maternity care models include the expectation that fathers prepare for and attend the birth. In Australia over 20% of the population is from a culturally and linguistically diverse background. Public policies espouse culturally competent healthcare. Little is known about the experiences of perinatal health care of men from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) communities living in high income countries. The aim was to understand the experiences, attitudes and beliefs about father’s inclusion in perinatal healthcare, from the growing, and recently settled community of Ethiopian families living in Australia.MethodsA qualitative study using semi-structured individual interviews with Ethiopian-Australian men and women who had experienced Australian maternity care and were sampled for diversity of time since migration, and parity. Interviews were in English, audio-recorded, transcribed and then analysed thematically.ResultsParticipants were seven women and six men all born in Ethiopia, including two couples. Key themes included: the loss of extended family through migration, new roles for both parents and the need to establish ‘family-like’ relationships with friendship groups in Australia. There was a willingness to involve male partners in the Ethiopian community in Australia, although it was recognised as a cultural change. Experiences of male partner involvement were mixed among healthcare types, with men attending Maternal and Child Health (MCH) appointments less frequently than antenatal (ANC) appointments.ConclusionsResults suggests men may be missing out on the education provided during antenatal appointments and may benefit from an alternative. There were not universally high levels of cultural competency among healthcare professionals, with further training still required. Commitment to paid employment remains a barrier to men’s involvement, suggesting that flexible working conditions and increased paternity leave would support their involvement. Alternatively services could utilise flexible delivery methods such as phone and zoom to include fathers.
Highlights
Family-centred maternity care models include the expectation that fathers prepare for and attend the birth
This study contributes evidence about Ethiopian fathers’ experiences of perinatal healthcare in Australia. It explores the attitudes about involving men in pregnancy, childbirth and infant healthcare among parents of young children in the Ethiopian community
A recent qualitative study of 164 migrants from seven collectivist cultural communities concluded that extended community networks mitigated culture shock and a social capital framework was appropriate to understand the experiences of these communities [55]. These findings suggest that families migrating from collectivist cultures may benefit from support for changing roles of men and women in relation to pregnancy, childbirth and infancy inside the family unit, as well as support in cultivating an extended support network in their cultural group
Summary
Family-centred maternity care models include the expectation that fathers prepare for and attend the birth. Positive involvement from the father (respectfully engaged, accessible and responsible behaviours) is associated with good child outcomes in several parameters such as rates of pre-term birth and low birth weight [4], eating behaviours, language acquisition and vocabulary [5], psychological problems, cognitive development and externalising behaviour problems [6]. Involving fathers during their partners’ pregnancy, childbirth and the child’s early infancy has been suggested as a method of supporting the father-child relationship from the earliest possible stage [7, 8]. It offers an opportunity to provide education or resources regarding their mental health
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