Introducing Norwegian parents to the Circle of Security Parenting program during the postpartum period: A qualitative descriptive study.

Abstract

Public health nurses in Norway provide a range of health promotion and primary prevention services to families in the postpartum period. The study objectives were to describe parents' experiences of: 1) being introduced to the Circle of Security Parenting program during a home visit and 2) participating in a parent group meeting. Qualitative descriptive study. A purposeful sample of 24 caregivers (n=15 mothers, n=9 fathers) parenting an infant. In-depth, semi-structured interviews were conducted to document participants experiences. Content analysis was used to code and categorize the data. Three main categories with seven subcategories reflected the parents' experiences: 1) Confidence-building home visit, 2) Awareness-raising parental group, 3) Dissemination of knowledge. The parents experienced the home visit as being on their family's terms and reassuring. The parental group session started a reflection process which made them aware of the importance of being present for their child, how to modify their communication and have a common understanding of childrearing. The parents thought the group was a great way to introduce the Circle of Security Parenting program and experienced it as a continuation of the information presented at the home visit. The introduction provided them with new knowledge.