Predictors of Fathers' Worry about High Risk Pregnancies of their Wives: A Path Analysis

Abstract

Objective: Recognizing the predictors of fathers' worry about maternal health, maternity pregnancy, and infant health and personal- familial issues is the first step in counseling them. The present study aimed to determine the predictors of fathers' worry about high-risk pregnancy of their wife. Methods: This cross sectional study was conducted on 294 eligible fathers from four health centers and a hospital of Gorgan, Iran. Data collection tools were checklist of demographic and midwifery characteristics, psychological symptoms checklist (SCL-25), mothers' and fathers' worry questionnaire, and a social-familial support scale. Data were analyzed by SPSS and LISREL software 8.8 full version. Results: According to results of the path analysis, mothers' worry (B= 0.31, p=4.78) among the variables, which were related to fathers' worry from both paths, had the highest positive relationship. The maternal mental health indirectly had the most positive association (B = 0.12, p=3/48) and duration of marriage indirectly had the most negative association with fathers' worry (B = -0.22, p=-3.14). In a direct path, the fathers' mental health was positively related to the fathers' worry (B= 0.3, p=0.000). Conclusion: Mothers' worry, fathers' mental health, duration of marriage, and maternal mental health had the highest association with fathers' worry. The factor was both directly and indirectly related to the mother's worry through association with the maternal mental health. According to findings, on this basis, it is important to pay attention to supportive and counseling programs for fathers.